Seven Field Research Teams conducted the survey during terms 1-3 in 2007. The Teams included:
Each team included a Team Leader and Field Research Assistants. The Field Research Assistants came from a range of backgrounds and were selected for their ability to work successfully in teams and to interact well with students. Feedback from schools participating in Youth'07 commented on the diversity (we employed people with a range of ages and from different cultures) and the warm friendly nature of the research assistants.
The Teams were coordinated by the Youth'07 operations team based at the University of Auckland.
The Survey EquipmentComputers
In 2006 120 Nokia 770 hand-held internet tablets were purchased from the US as at that time they were not available in NZ.
The 120 sets of headphones enabled students to listen to the survey questions and answers. The Nokia were grouped into four sets of 30 units each with a laptop and a router to use as a server for the Youth’07 Survey software programme. The software was developed by an Auckland company - Stream Interactive Ltd.
Geocoding
Geocoding was included so that the mesh block number derived from each student's address could be linked to their identifying computer log-on number. This information from the mesh block was relevant for calculating the deprivation index and deducing other information relating to services and amenities in the neighbourhood where each student lived. Students cooperated in the process by providing their address and then watching as it was deleted from the computer once the mesh block number had been recorded, thus reassuring them that there was no breech of their anonymity.
The Measuring Equipment
Portable stadiometers were used for measuring height, and digital weighing scales and purpose-designed measuring tapes were used for weight and waist measurements, respectively.
Youth'07 research assistants practising their measuring technique
Transportation
In total there were four sets of research equipment to allow for several teams operating simultaneously in different parts of the country. Each full set of equipment (which included portable screens to provide students with some privacy when their measurements were taken) weighed 68 kilograms. The weight and volume presented some challenges for transport especially when Teams had to fly to distant centres. Whenever possible Teams travelled by road using hired vehicles.
The School - Staff, Students and ParentsThe School Liaison Person
The School Liaison person played a pivotal role, linking the Youth’07 Operations Team based at the University with their school, and then coordinating the survey in the school with the Field Research Team. Communication with each school's designated liaison person prior to the survey was through the Youth’07 Project Manager at the University.
School Liaison people differed depending on the school but they were usually drawn from senior management or student support services. Ideally the person would have the authority to work with the school calendar, timetable, and enough influence within the school to ensure that the survey was taken seriously by other staff members.
In the Wharekura, principals were the first point of contact; or someone delegated the responsibility to meet with the Wharekura Survey Coordinator if the principal was unavailable. If an iwi provider was part of the process then they would act as a liaison between the Wharekura Survey Coordinator at the University of Auckland and the Wharekura.
Gaining consent to survey students
The University Ethics Committee agreed that students themselves should be able to consent to take part in the survey providing they were given sufficient information to make an informed choice about whether to participate. Students who had been randomly selected were issued with invitation cards and a Parent and Whanau pamphlet was also developed to provide parents with information. The schools were asked to ensure that the invitations were given to students and the pamphlet was sent home to parents and whanau. Click here for more information.
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Surveying the Students
Each survey session took 2 school periods (approximately 40 minutes each). Students were surveyed in groups of up to 90+ depending on the size of the school. The physical measurements and the geocoding were taken during the survey, and took approximately 5 minutes per student. Student privacy was maintained with screens and most students agreed to be measured. Students took an average of 75 minutes to complete the entire survey.
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The School Climate for StaffThe School Climate Survey for staff was a pencil and paper survey and was usually conducted during a regular staff meeting. The survey, which was voluntary and anonymous, included questions such as their role in the school, perceptions of the school and personal health and wellbeing.
A copy of the Staff Survey is available here
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Working with SchoolsWe are aware that national school surveys, like the two Youth2000 surveys, can only take place if secondary schools recognize the value of them and agree to participate. Feedback from schools that took part in the first Youth2000 survey conducted in 2001, was very positive, so in conductingYouth'07 we were determined to build on that credit for the benefit of future surveys.
Considerable efforts were made therefore, to make the survey process as easy and as unobtrusive as possible. However, in spite of the requirements we had to make of schools and the disruption to routines that conducting the survey caused, schools were in the main extremely positive in their feedback about the actual survey:
'This was a very well-organised survey. Many thanks to the team for your unobtrusive work in the school!'
'Professionally conducted, students were respected. All excellent!'
Letters of appreciation were sent to the school liaison person, the school principal and the Board of Trustees. A koha of book tokens was also sent to each school principal when the survey was completed
The School Report
During 2008 the principals of the schools that participated in the survey were sent a confidential report of the survey results for their school. To view the mock report for a hypothetical school follow this link.