Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Field Enumerator

💰 $18 - $28 per hour

Data CollectionResearchFieldworkSocial Impact

🎯 Role Definition

As a Field Enumerator, you are the crucial link between our research objectives and the community. Your primary role is to collect accurate, reliable, and timely data directly from the field through surveys, interviews, and observations. You will be responsible for locating assigned households or individuals, explaining the purpose of the study, obtaining informed consent, and administering questionnaires using mobile data collection technology. Success in this role requires a blend of interpersonal skill, technical aptitude, and unwavering commitment to data integrity and ethical research standards. You are the face of the project, and your professionalism directly impacts the quality of our findings and the success of our mission.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Recent Graduate (Social Sciences, Public Health, etc.)
  • Community Health Worker
  • Social Worker or Community Mobilizer
  • Research Intern

Advancement To:

  • Field Supervisor / Team Lead
  • Data Quality Officer / Research Associate
  • Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Assistant
  • Project Assistant

Lateral Moves:

  • Data Entry Clerk
  • Transcriptionist
  • Survey Programmer
  • Community Liaison Officer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Travel to pre-identified communities, households, and locations to conduct face-to-face interviews and gather primary data according to a strict schedule.
  • Clearly and professionally introduce the project, its objectives, and its sponsors to potential participants to build trust and encourage participation.
  • Diligently obtain and document informed consent from all respondents before commencing any survey or interview, ensuring they understand their rights and the confidentiality of their data.
  • Administer detailed, structured questionnaires and surveys accurately and uniformly, adhering strictly to the provided script and survey protocol.
  • Utilize digital data collection tools, such as tablets or smartphones equipped with CAPI software (like ODK, KoboToolbox, or SurveyCTO), for real-time data entry.
  • Ensure the high quality and accuracy of all collected data by performing initial checks for completeness, consistency, and correctness in the field.
  • Safeguard all project equipment, including tablets, GPS devices, and other supplies, ensuring they are charged, functional, and securely stored.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality of all respondent information and collected data, adhering to the organization's data protection and privacy policies.
  • Navigate assigned enumeration areas, sometimes in remote or unfamiliar locations, using maps or GPS guidance to locate specific respondents or households.
  • Systematically manage a daily workload of interviews, ensuring targets are met while maintaining a high standard of quality for each interaction.
  • Report any challenges, issues, or anomalies encountered in the field—such as respondent refusal, security concerns, or survey logic errors—to the Field Supervisor immediately.
  • Sync collected data from mobile devices to a central server daily or as frequently as instructed to ensure data safety and availability.
  • Provide clear and comprehensive explanations of complex survey questions to respondents, ensuring they understand the question without introducing bias.
    which
  • Follow complex skip patterns and logic embedded within the survey instrument to ensure a smooth and logical flow of the interview.
  • Conduct follow-up visits to households or respondents when necessary to complete interviews or clarify missing or inconsistent information.
  • Precisely record qualitative data, including detailed notes from open-ended questions and observations, capturing the nuances of respondent answers.
  • Participate actively in comprehensive training sessions on survey methodology, questionnaire content, and the use of data collection technology.
  • Maintain a professional and neutral demeanor during all interactions, representing the organization with integrity and respect for local cultures and customs.
  • Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Field Supervisor, detailing completed interviews, challenges faced, and areas covered.
  • Verify the eligibility of respondents based on pre-defined criteria to ensure that the data is collected from the correct target population.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in the pre-testing and piloting of survey instruments, providing valuable feedback to the research team for refinement and improvement.
  • Participate in regular team debriefing meetings to share field experiences, discuss challenges, and contribute to collective problem-solving.
  • Support logistical arrangements for fieldwork, which may include planning daily travel routes and coordinating with local community leaders.
  • Aid in the translation of survey instruments or communication materials into the local language, if fluent, to ensure cultural and contextual appropriateness.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Mobile Data Collection (CAPI/MAPI): Proficiency in using tablets and smartphones for data collection with software like ODK, KoboToolbox, SurveyCTO, or similar platforms.
  • Data Quality Assurance: Ability to perform on-the-spot checks for data completeness, consistency, and accuracy.
  • Basic GPS Operation: Skill in using GPS devices or smartphone apps for navigation and marking waypoints.
  • Tech Literacy: Comfortable with troubleshooting basic technical issues on mobile devices (e.g., connectivity, battery management).
  • Survey Administration: Proven ability to follow complex questionnaire logic, skip patterns, and administration protocols without deviation.
  • Reporting: Experience in compiling and submitting clear, concise daily field reports.

Soft Skills

  • Interpersonal & Communication: Exceptional ability to build rapport quickly with individuals from diverse backgrounds and communicate with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to recording data and following instructions to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
  • Integrity & Ethics: A strong commitment to confidentiality, data privacy, and ethical research principles.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to remain flexible and positive when faced with unexpected challenges, changing schedules, or difficult field conditions.
  • Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying field-level issues and resourceful in finding appropriate solutions or escalating them effectively.
  • Time Management: Excellent organizational skills to manage a caseload of interviews efficiently and meet daily targets.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: High level of awareness and respect for local customs, traditions, and social norms.
  • Patience & Persistence: The tenacity to complete interviews and handle reluctant or difficult respondents calmly and respectfully.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology)
  • Public Health
  • Development Studies
  • Statistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0-3 years of professional experience.

Preferred:

  • At least 6 months of direct experience in field data collection for a research institution, NGO, or government agency.
  • Prior experience conducting household surveys, face-to-face interviews, or community-based research.
  • Familiarity with working in the specific rural or urban communities targeted by the project.
Explore More Careers