Training and Learning Opportunities using Blaise
Colin Setchfield; ONS, UK
Prior to 2005, at the Office for National Statistics [ONS], most survey instructions for interviewers continued to be
provided in a paper format. These were supplemented by minimal on-screen instructions/advice provided only at
certain specific questions.
The development of the IHS has required ONS to re-evaluate its dependence on non-interactional paper and
electronic documentation. For the survey’s Field Trials, ONS developed its first WinHelp Question-by-Question help
facility and interactive interviewer training by means of Electronic Learning Questionnaires [ELQs].
These developments addressed the issues of administering the extensive and overlapping instructions that
resulted from the merger of several large complex surveys into one Blaise instrument, and providing learning
resources better suited to a new integrated interviewer fieldforce. (Previously, two exclusive fieldforces worked on
separate surveys with different tailored training.)
The paper will look at the issues and challenges for an organisation implementing WinHelp on its Blaise
questionnaires, particularly in terms of design and functionality. It will explore the options available in Blaise for
achieving this, and explain what guided ONS’s choice in its final selection including acknowledging negative
impacts this has produced.
The paper will also describe the development of the ELQ from its early simple form to the final interactive version,
demonstrate both the Q-by-Q help and ELQ, and conclude by outlining the intended future use of Blaise by ONS to
create training/learning tools for use with its surveys.
| Contact: colin.setchfield@lineone.net |