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Costs

Costs. Save where you can But not where you shouldn’t And keep a reserve for surprises Pamela Spall. Stages and types of costs. Stages and types of costs. Variables on cost behaviour. Size of the sample Size of the survey instrument Length of research period Labour Costs

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Costs

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  1. Costs Save where you can But not where you shouldn’t And keep a reserve for surprises Pamela Spall

  2. Stages and types of costs

  3. Stages and types of costs

  4. Variables on cost behaviour • Size of the sample • Size of the survey instrument • Length of research period • Labour Costs • Ownership of Intellectual Property/survey formats • Geographic spread of the sample • Complexity of client group, program area or policy • Access to organizations • Quality of the data collected • Participation costs

  5. Hints on where you can save • Reduce the size of the sample • Asking only what you need to know • Reducing labour costs – Outsourcing, selective involvement of key researchers • Using existing data bases/sets (ABS) to supplement data • Reducing the research period by using shorter and sharper surveys (e.g. snapshots)

  6. Hints on where you can save • Locating existing survey tools • Use of electronic surveying • Using research services that already have established infrastructure • Depending on research question, change to a less complex or more ‘organized’ programmatic area or policy

  7. Where you shouldn’t save • If sample size impacts on statistical validity or reduction appears exclusionary • If outsourcing can’t control quality of process of reduces skill • If survey tool won’t answer your research questions • If research participants don’t have access to the technology or can’t use the technology

  8. Where you shouldn’t save • If the borrowed survey tool is culturally or otherwise inappropriate • If the key researcher/s are cut out of critical phases (e.g. analysis) • If the instrument is not piloted • If the data collection process takes a mono-cultural approach to culturally or linguistically specific groups

  9. Peculiarities with nonprofit organizations • Survey fatigue • Autonomy of staff and management from management committees • Often there are limited existing data collection and other systems within organizations • Operating in an environment that is not necessarily conducive to a research culture (e.g. don’t fill surveys in properly) • Priority of Direct Service Delivery v.s. Organizational Arrangements • Limited access to electronic communication

  10. Peculiarities with nonprofit organizations • Limited capacity to pay for research • Mindset - research is not valid unless everyone is included • Preference for Qualitative Methods – relationship is valued • Value participation incentives • Accuracy of contact data bases

  11. Surprises • Endless number of formats and target audiences for nonprofit research • Participation costs • Follow-up if not good return – labour intensive and outsourcing firms will pass on cost • Accessing statistical expertise

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