ABARE survey of businesses in Australia's mining technology services sector, Financial Year 2003/2004
- Overview
- Quality Framework
- A. General Information
- B. User Requirements, Survey Objectives and Budget
- C. Alternative Sources of Data
- D. Data Outputs
- E. Questionnaire Design and Data Collection *** You are here ***
- E1 Questionnaire(s)
- E2 How questions will be used
- E3 Data collection methods
- E4 Respondent choices
- E5 Questionnaire testing
- E6 Consultation with businesses
- F. Respondent Load
- G. Population / Frame
- H. Sample Design
- I. Estimation and Analysis
E. Questionnaire Design and Data Collection
Please provide copy (copies) of questionnaire(s). (E1)
Note. Where possible, provides an electronic copy of the questionnaire. The SCH approval number is placed on the survey questionnaire and on any explanatory material sent to businesses for the survey.
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Are there any questions not used directly in the principal data outputs specified in D1? If yes, how are these questions used? (E2)
- No, all questions in the ABARE survey will be used to assess progress in achieving the recommendations identified by the MTS Action Agenda.
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E3 Data collection methods
What is (are) the method(s) of collecting the data (eg self-completion, telephone interviewing, face to face interviewing, etc)? Why was it (were they) chosen? (E3)
Note. If more than one method will be used, the agency should indicate the extent to which it expects each method will be used, eg 5% of responses by fax and the remaining responses by phone.
- The only method available is self-completion given the questionnaire is straightforward.
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E4 Respondent choices
If only one method is stated in E3, above, what consideration has been given to offering respondents a choice in how they provide their answers (eg phone, fax, mail, Web/Internet)? (E4)
- The primary method of submitting the questionnaire is by e-mail. Alternatives, such as by fax or by post are also available to respondents.
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E5 Questionnaire testing
What testing of the questionnaire(s) has (have) taken place? (E5)
Note. Should include a brief description of the testing, ie, when, number of respondents, methodology, and major findings.
- Officers at DITR have provided feedback and other ABARE staff have provided advice on the survey design. The survey was also sent to three test companies on 30 July 2004. These test companies returned the completed surveys within a couple of days and ABARE then made a follow-up telephone call to obtain feedback on survey design. As a result of this feedback some minor changes have been made to the survey, which included clarifying the description of some questions.
Overall respondents were able to efficiently answer the questionnaire. They also provided positive feedback on the survey design and the question structure.
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E6 Consultation with businesses
What consultations have taken place, other than testing, with businesses or business associations regarding availability of data items and data collection methods? (E6)
Note. Refers to activities other than testing.
Comments have been received by DITR and incorporated into the current version of the survey. We have also received comments from the Implementation Group of the MTS Action Agenda. The Implementation Group includes representative MTS sector companies, industry organisations and government representatives. They have provided comments on the survey design and the survey process, and their feedback will be incorporated appropriately. So far, positive feedback has been received from all parties.
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