STUDY ON SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES IN
BANGLADESH

A METHODOLOGICAL REPORT

Prepared for: Shin Joho Centre, Tokyo, Japan

Prepared by: SIRIUS Marketing and Social Research Ltd., Dhaka,

Bangladesh
BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The Client

Shin Joho Centre is a research organisation authorised by the Japanese

Government in 1972, specialising in opinion and market research.

The Endeavour

Shin Joho Centre joined a multi nation survey in Central and South Asian
countries and thus would like to commission a survey in Bangladesh among a
nationally representative sample size on social, political and international issues.
This survey is to be conducted on behalf of the Japanese Govt.

The Client commissioned us, SIRIUS Marketing and Social Research Ltd. to
submit a proposal for such a survey.

Research Objectives

The key objective of this research were to understand the opinion of the adult
Bangladeshis within the age group 20-59 years on various issues related to
social, economic, political and international aspects.
SAMPLING METHODOLOGY, COVERAGE AND SPREAD

Bangladesh-A country rich in diversity

Bangladesh in spite of its ethnic homogeneity has diverse socio-economic and

cultural practices across various regions of the country. Though the total area of
the country is small, the population is very dense and grows at a feverishly high
rate enhancing the diversity within sampling units and hence also in public
opinion thus posing a challenge to select a sample which would be truly
representative of the population.

To represent the country and its multi-cultural constituents we adopted a multi

stage cluster sampling which will ensure that all the regions within the country as
well as the administrative units like metros, other municipal towns, non-municipal
towns and rural areas are represented adequately in the process detailed below.

Sampling Methodology

1. Selection of survey centres

We covered all the 6 Divisions as per the Census published by the Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics (BBS):
- Dhaka
- Chittagong
- Khulna
- Rajshahi
- Sylhet
- Barisal

Further, each Division was sampled by four strata as defined by the Census:

- Divisional Head Quarter (DHQ)

- Other Municipal Center (OMC)
- Non Municipal Center (NMC)
- Rural
Selection of DHQ

All the DHQ towns within each division get automatically selected, thus the cities
of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal were covered in the
survey. The sample size varies from metro to metro as Dhaka being the country
capital had the highest sample size followed by Chittagong that is the next most
important city in Bangladesh. This sample skew was needed to capture the
cosmopolitan nature of these towns will be later on corrected through weighting.

Selection of OMC, NMC and Rural areas

OMC - Other Municipal Towns

NMC - Non Municipal Towns or Thanas
Rural - Villages

All centers of the specific type were listed within a Division based on their total
population in a descending order; subsequently, the pre decided number of
centers was selected using the PPS [probability proportionate to size] method.

Given that we selected a small number of each centre type within a Division, post
the PPS we plotted the selected locations on a map to ensure that there is
adequate geographical spread within the Division.

For the villages, all villages of each selected thana were arranged in descending
order of population and the required number of villages were selected from each
thana using the PPS method.

The above method gave geographical spread and proper representation of areas
within a region and of different sized villages.

2. Selection of households in the survey centres

In each survey centre, we selected starting points or starting addresses, where

the interviewers start contacting households.

In DHQs and other MC towns, starting addresses were selected from the
electoral rolls by using the circular systematic sampling method. [However, for
centers for which electoral roll could not be obtained or not available, the center
was divided into blocks based on the natural cluster of households and the
required number of starting address will be selected by the team leader.]

In each NMC town and rural centre, the team leader purposively chose starting
addresses. The centre was divided into blocks on natural cluster of households
and the required number of starting addresses was selected. Care was taken
during this selection that all clusters/ groupings of the town or village were
covered.

In each selected starting address, 6 consecutive households were contacted by

using both the ‘Right Hand Rule’ and the ‘Left Hand Rule’. A cluster size of 6 has
been proved to very effective for smaller sample sizes in Bangladesh in earlier
surveys. This systematic procedure eliminates interviewer bias in household
selection and facilitates back checking of interviews.

Quota

The only quota which we set out is a 50:50 split in gender and thus, we selected
male respondents from households using the Left Hand Rule while female
respondents were selected from households using the Right Hand Rule. This
ensured that both the genders were represented around each starting address.

3. Selection of respondents

Out of 6 households contacted around a starting address, names and ages of all
adults (20 to 59 years) were listed. Male interviewers listed the male members in
a particular household while female interviewers listed the female members in a
particular household. This interviewing pattern had to be maintained in
Bangladesh as due to cultural taboo, it is difficult for males to interview females
and vice-versa. Then all adults were numbered in descending order of their ages.
One member was chosen as respondent in each household with the help of
KISH selection chart.
Sample Size and Coverage

A total sample size of 1008 spread as given below

Center Distribution
Metro OMC NMC Rural Total
Dhaka 1 2 2 4 9
Chittagong 1 2 2 4 9
Rajshahi 1 2 2 4 9
Khulna 1 2 2 4 9
Sylhet 1 2 2 4 9
Barisal 1 2 2 4 9
Total 6 12 12 24 54
Sample Distribution
Metro OMC NMC Rural Total
Dhaka 96 48 72 36 252
Chittagong 72 36 36 36 180
Rajshahi 48 36 72 36 192
Khulna 48 48 36 36 168
Sylhet 0 36 36 36 108
Barisal 0 36 36 36 108
Total 264 240 288 216 1008
No. of Starting Addresses
Metro OMC NMC Rural Total
Dhaka 16 8 12 6 42
Chittagong 12 6 6 6 30
Rajshahi 8 6 12 6 32
Khulna 8 8 6 6 28
Sylhet 0 6 6 6 18
Barisal 0 6 6 6 18
Total 44 40 48 36 168
Sample to Universe Ratio- Sample Size 1008

Proportion of Universe - Region x Center Type

HQ OMC NMC Rural Total
0.003
Dhaka 0.003% 0.002% % 0.000% 0.001%
0.003
Chittagong 0.006% 0.004% % 0.000% 0.001%
0.009
Rajshahi 0.021% 0.002% % 0.000% 0.001%
0.006
Khulna 0.010% 0.007% % 0.001% 0.002%
0.021
Sylhet 0.000% 0.017% % 0.001% 0.003%
0.016
Barisal 0.000% 0.011% % 0.001% 0.003%
0.005
Total 0.005% 0.004% % 0.000% 0.002%

4. Weighting

During analysis, the data was weighted in line with the universe distribution of
adults in the age 20 to 59 years at the following levels:

- Division
- Center Type- Metro/OMC/NMC/Rural
- Age group
- Gender

This was based on the universe estimates as obtained from the 2001 Census
and projected to 2004 based on annual growth rate. However, the age and
centre type distribution was as per the 1991 Census (as the 2001 Census
distribution on these parameters is not available).

Additionally the data was projected to the universe of 20 to 59 years adult

population of Bangladesh.
FIELD INTERVIEWING, QUALITY CONTROL

The methodology we will follow is face to face interviews with the target group.

SIRIUS conducts all fieldwork through an in house Field team that is both
competent and experienced in handling large research projects across the
country.

The Field team working on this project was briefed by the concerned Research
Executive as well as the Field Manager and Field Executive in charge of the
project through a 2-3 day classroom training season. The training session
covered the basic sampling process, selection of individual respondents,
questionnaire and handling of cards/stimuli to be used during the course of the
study. A team of freelance Interviewers were used for the project. The
interviewing team was supervised by both Field Executives and freelance
Supervisors in field.

The quality control norms that we will follow as in other research studies is given
below

• Post the briefing session, there was mock call sessions to ensure that the
Field Interviewers have understood the selection criteria and
administration of the questionnaire to perfection
• All Interviewers were accompanied either by Field Supervisors or Field
Executives for the first few interviews in field
• The Quality Control report is given in next page
 Centre Accompanied/Spot
Type Survey Centre Region/Division Sample Checked Back checked
DHQ Dhaka Metro Dhaka 96 18 42
OMC Mymensingh Sadar Dhaka 24 5 12
OMC Manikgonj Sadar Dhaka 24 7 12
NMC Fulbaria Dhaka 36 9 17
NMC Kaliakair Dhaka 36 8 21
Rural Sukhabashpur Dhaka 9 3 4
Rural Baghaia Kandi Dhaka 9 2 6
Rural Kalyanpur Dhaka 9
Rural Bishnupur Dhaka 9 4 4
DHQ Chittagong Metro Chittagong 72 26 33
OMC Comilla Sadar Chittagong 18 8 5
OMC Matlab Sadar Chittagong 18 8 9
NMC Begumgonj Chittagong 18 6 8
NMC Faridgonj Chittagong 18 6 6
Rural Anderchar Chittagong 9 4 4
Rural Paschim Sulukia Chittagong 9 4 5
Rural Haripur Chittagong 9 4 4
Rural Parikot Chittagong 9
DHQ Khulna Metro Khulna 48 4 30
OMC Jhenidah Sadar Khulna 24 2 13
OMC Darsana Khulna 24 5 16
NMC Shyamnagar Khulna 18 4 10
NMC Kaligonj Khulna 18 2 13
Rural Hardi Khulna 9 0 0
Rural Mochainagar Khulna 9 2 7
Rural Rajpur Khulna 9 2 7
Rural Jugihati Khulna 9 2 6
DHQ Rajshahi Metro Rajshahi 48 14 22
OMC Sirajgonj Sadar Rajshahi 18 4 12
OMC Santhia Rajshahi 18 6 6
NMC Jaldhaka Rajshahi 36 6 16
NMC Niamatpur Rajshahi 36 5 16
Rural Nilphamari Bazar Rajshahi 9 5
Rural Gorgram Rajshahi 9 4 4
Rural Kadihat Rajshahi 9 4 3
Rural Padampur Rajshahi 9 3 12
OMC Sunamgonj Sadar Sylhet 18 6 10
OMC Kulaura Sadar Sylhet 18 5 8
NMC Baniachong Sylhet 18 4 10
NMC Balagonj Sylhet 18 5 4
Rural Darga Mahallah Sylhet 9 3 5
Rural Mostafapur Sylhet 9 3 3
Rural Indangar TG Sylhet 9
Rural Sarampur Sylhet 9 4 3
OMC Bhola Sadar Barisal 18 5 8
OMC Bakergonj Sadar Barisal 18 6 7
NMC Bauphal Barisal 18 5 9
NMC Hizla Barisal 18 4 8
Rural Gulisakhali Barisal 9 3 5
Rural Purba Krishna nagar Barisal 9
Rural Bakshi Char Barisal 9 3 5
Rural Paschim Bhutardia Barisal 9
Total 1008 247 475

The above table indicates that means more than 70% of the interviews were
quality checked.

Fieldwork Time

Fieldwork Dates 27.09.2005 to 10.10.2005