Sexual Violence Survey Liaison Group Meeting

Videoconference

30th September 2020 10:00am

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Minutes and update on actions

3. Rapid Change in Data Collection - Problems and Solutions

4. Plan for 2021

5. Next meeting

6. AOB 

Minutes

Attendees:

• Keith McSweeney (Chair), Helen McGrath (Secretary), Jessica Coyne, Central Statistics Office
• Clíona Saidléar, Rape Crisis Network Ireland
• Elaine Byrnes, National University of Ireland, Galway
• Elaine Mears, Rape Crisis Network Ireland
• Mary Roche, TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency
• Maeve Lewis, One in Four
• Philip McCormack, Department of Justice and Equality
• Orla O’Connor, National Women’s Council of Ireland
• Sarah O'Connor, Sexual Assault Treatment Unit
• Shirley Scott, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
• Susan Leahy, University of Limerick

1. Introduction

The Chair welcomed all participants to the virtual meeting. He explained the focus of this Liaison Group meeting was sharing information on the update to the SVS plan due to COVID-19.

2. Minutes and update on actions

The Chair gave an overview of the minutes from the previous meeting and gave an update on the actions from the last meeting. There were no issues raised with the minutes. These will be published online.

3. Rapid Change in Data Collection - Problems and Solutions

Jessica Coyne from the Social Data Collection division presented on overview of the changes necessary to continue collecting data since March. The main points of the presentation included:

• The significant change in field operation by removing the field staff from face to face interviewing
• The quick turnaround from face to face interviewing to telephone and the management of that process including alternative ways of approaching the household e.g. post cards, letters of invitation
• The introduction of branding campaigns, addition of QR codes and re-evaluation of the invitation wording to maximise response rates and the positive outcomes associated with that
• The proposed return of the field staff in a limited capacity for certain surveys and under strictly limited situations
• The move to web of the Labour Force Survey in Q2 2021.

4. Plan for 2021

Helen McGrath gave a presentation on the plan for 2021. Several points were addressed in the presentation including:

• The aim of the survey, to capture the prevalence of sexual violence in Ireland, was re-iterated.
• The original approach to the pilot was described and the areas for consideration for revising that design were detailed.
• The new approach of a web-based interview was described including references to international uses of the mode. The advantages and disadvantages of the approach were outlined.
• The key areas of work for the survey for the rest for 2020 and 2021 were outlined, including:

o The continued work on establishing an ethics committee for social surveys. The first survey the committee will look at will be the Sexual Violence Survey (SVS).

o Questionnaire development to account for the mode change and additional evaluation with internal experts and potentially working with survivors if possible.

o Running a pilot in 2021 with analysis completed by Q3 2021 to allow for the plan for 2022 to be agreed.

• Finally, an outline of the meeting structure for 2021 was provided.

There followed some general discussion:

• A query was raised on the expected response rate for a web-based mode. The experience of other countries for a similar survey (EU-GBV) was referenced which ranged from 9%-23%. It was also shared that other CSO social surveys on COVID, which were web based, did achieve a 20-25% response rate. It was noted that response rates from pre COVID days may not be reflective of the population’s current inclination to participate in alternative ways.
• Concerns over the lack of online access and a potential lack of technical abilities for different age groups were shared. It was explained that the rationale for the pilot is to get feedback on those types of difficulties.
• Experience from dealing with another Department’s survey was shared where issues such as geography of the sample and the length of a survey were identified. The optimum length for a web-based survey is dependent on a lot of factors but the general rule of thumb is 10-15 mins.
• The frame for the pilot and main survey was identified as the Census. It was highlighted that the pilot will not produce nationally representative figures as it is a small pilot. Issues with non-response can be resolved through statistical techniques such as weighting and calibration.
• An evaluation of the issues with using the telephone as a mode were discussed. Managing the risk of underreporting is key and it has been seen through literature and other statistical agencies work, that there is an interviewer effect when dealing with sensitive questions. Hence creating an environment of privacy and confidentiality through self-completion, whether online or on a tablet, will reduce that risk of underreporting. Legal obligations, managing distress for interviewers and future proofing the survey were also referenced as other considerations when evaluating a telephone approach. It was agreed that, with a repeat of this survey in ten years, being mindful of the mode is important. Technology changes are difficult to predict.
• IT implications for data management in an online environment were referenced. It was noted that IT are working on the model to tease some of those issues out. It was also referenced that expertise in data and IT ethics was being sought for the ethics committee to address this issue.

5. Next meeting

The next meeting will be scheduled for February/ March 2021 where an update on the development of the pilot field operation and the ethics committee will be shared.

6. AOB

The CSO will be giving an update on the SVS project at an upcoming SATU Annual Study Day in October.

The group were also alerted to the Women’s Aid webinar called “Too into You: Dating abuse in Ireland” on Wednesday 25th November 2020.

Actions for next meeting