Research Projects: 2. Survey data on general population

Research Brief 2

Nationally representative survey to establish benchmarking indices for the monitoring of CPA initiatives.

This document highlights issues and topics to be addressed in the design and execution of a survey to establish baseline data on key measures of importance to the work of the Crisis Pregancy Agency.

Background to this research:
The Crisis Pregancy Agency has identified a framework for monitoring its work and evaluating specific initiatives developed by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme. In addition to national performance indicators available from Government departments (e.g. birth rates; lone parent data), other information needs to be collected and incorporated into the Crisis Pregnancy Programme's 'Statistical Report' . This information includes service availability and utilisation data (contraceptive and crisis pregnancy services) and antecedents of crisis pregnancy data (knowledge, attitudinal and behavioural data).

A scoping study has been completed examining the practical and methodological issues involved in undertaking a national survey of Sexual Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours (Layte, Fullerton & Mc Gee 2003). This scoping exercise was commissioned by the Department for Health and Children and suggests a sample size of 10,000 participants. In lieu of data from a survey of this scale becoming available (possibly early 2005), the Crisis Pregancy Agency is commissioning a smaller-scale, nationally representative survey, to establish baseline data of direct relevance to the work of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme in the shorter-term. This smaller-scale survey will naturally share some overlap with the content of the KAB survey.

Smaller-scale or regional quantitative Irish surveys have been undertaken in the past in areas of interest to the Crisis Pregnancy Programme. The difficulty with most of this work concerns a) the size of the sample and generalisability of findings; b) the characteristics of the sample and c) the range of constructs measured in the survey and the questions used. For example, with respect to service utilisation data, it is evident that most research has been concerned with contraceptive services as opposed to crisis pregnancy services.

Research aims:
The aims of this research include the collection of reliable nationally representative baseline information that will establish:

It is essential that the data generated is conducive to replication and comparison of responses over time. It is expected that tendering documents consider statistical and related issues and provide a strong basis for recommendations of the number of participant's required.

Therefore, the constructs and measures to be operationalised in this survey include:

This research will function to provide a robust snapshot of public opinion on matters relating to the remit of the Crisis Pregancy Agency. This data will be amalgamated with the Crisis Pregnancy Programme's statistical fact sheet and will serve as a simple monitoring and tracking mechanism documenting shifts over time.
One of the objectives of this research is to enable comparison with similar survey data generated in other countries. This has implications for the kinds of questions and response scales to be included in the questionnaire.

Another objective concerns the exploration of whether key dependent variables (e.g. attitudinal or behavioural indices) are predicted, mediated or moderated by variables such as: sex; age; SES; geographical location; educational attainment; relationship status, or religiosity for example. It should also be possible to examine interrelationships within the data that would be hypothesised from social psychological and health promotion models that attempt to predict behaviour.
It is anticipated that this data will be complimented and comparable with more robust and extensive data from the national sexual KAB survey at a later date.

Research Deliverables
The collection and analysis of this data will enable:

The identification of knowledge and information needs of men and women and their relation to service use.

The delineation of key baseline data of relevance to the CPA and the identification of characteristics related to such data. For example, if barriers to contraceptive services are a particular problem experienced by younger women, or women from more rural locations.

The identification of levels of service use and attitudes/experiences of services and supports.

The planning and development of appropriate initiatives to be based on sound high quality data generated from a nationally representative sample of Irish men and women.

The ability to plan and target information, supports and services at men, a cohort often lacking from survey data addressing these areas.

The ability to enable initiatives and campaigns embarked upon by the Crisis Pregnancy Programme to be monitored over time and for shifts in public opinion to be monitored.

To compare survey data with data generated in elsewhere and at other times.

Methodology and sampling considerations
It is expected that tendering documents propose a method of data collection that is suitable for the research aims identified in this brief and that this method contain a clear rationale linking it to objectives and expected deliverables of this research (e.g. face to face computer assisted questionnaire distribution or telephone interviewing).
It is anticipated that the questionnaire be developed and administered to a random sample of men and women, stratified by geographical location. It is proposed that respondents be between the ages of 18 and 45. It is expected that proposed sample sizes are outlined in the tender bid along with the rationale for this number.

Budget and proposed timeframe
The funding allocated for this project is in the region of €70,000 - €100,000 inclusive of VAT.
Preliminary report and findings by will be due by November 2003, final report by December 2003
Please refer to the Invitation to Tender letter for information relating to expected outputs, reporting arrangements, ethical consideration, terms of reference, contacts and details for submission and content of tender bids. This information is elaborated in section 2.2 of the Invitation to Tender letter.

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