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Sexual Violence Survey Steering Group Meeting

Department of Justice and Equality, 51 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 1

18th December 2019

Agenda

  1. Introduction – CSO chair
  2. Agreement of minutes from last meeting – update on actions
  3. Update from CSO on development work to date
    1. Variable list development
    2. Testing procedures
    3. Stakeholder meetings
    4. Update on Task Force
    5. Next steps
  4. Finance
  5. Next meeting – March 2020
  6. AOB

Minutes

Attendees:

• Gurchand Singh, Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice and Equality
• Alice Wainwright, Head of Research and Data Analytics, Department of Justice and Equality
• Philip McCormack, Research Officer, Department of Justice and Equality (Chair)
• Keith McSweeney, Senior Statistician, Central Statistics Office
• Helen McGrath, Statistician, Central Statistics Office

1. Introduction
The Chair welcomed all members of the steering group.

2. Agreement of minutes from last meeting
The minutes from the last meeting were agreed and actions were updated.

3. Update from CSO on development work to date
A progress report was issued to DJE prior to the meeting and CSO gave a brief summary of the document. Since the previous steering group meeting:
• The variable list for the testing stage has been decided. See point A below.
• Design of the test procedures has been agreed. See point B below.
• Consultants for IT development work have been on site in December 2019 to work on the incorporation of the software into the survey delivery infrastructure.
• Agreement on the master template for the screen interface is at an advanced stage.
• The second Liaison Group meeting was held on the 26th September 2019 with the 3rd meeting scheduled for the 22nd January 2020. See point C below.
• Invited to discuss the SVS development work at a SATU Annual Study Day in October 2019 and a DRCC annual conference in November 2019.
• Attended the sixth meeting of the Eurostat Taskforce for the development of the European Gender Based Violence survey in November 2019.

A. Variable list development
The Scoping Group data list needed clarification around the definitions underpinning the data points as well as additional clarity on the data needs. Two expert groups were identified – Data Expert Group (DEG) and the Policy Expert Group (PEG). The process for refining the data list is described in the diagram in Appendix I. These groups both met twice, in July and August. Recommendations on the definition for the data list points and prioritisation were identified. These recommendations were evaluated as a variable list was constructed.

An outline variable list was presented to the Liaison Group for their input and their recommendations (See point 3). The feedback was considered and a variable list for testing was issued to the Liaison Group. In line with good practice and other survey development approaches used in by CSO, only questions that have been tested can be considered possible candidates for inclusion in the SVS main survey.

B. Testing procedures
From the development of the variable list for testing, a prototype questionnaire was designed to collect the data identified in the variable list. Some variables were selected for testing via cognitive testing. The testing will reflect on how effective the question is at capturing the variable. Concepts will be explored through focus groups to explore relevant issues in greater detail which will lead to better quality questions.

The testing phase will also assess issues such as questionnaire flow for the survey (questions seem follow a clear logic for respondents), burden/stress for the respondent and length of time to complete the survey. An outline of the testing phase was described.

C. Liaison Group Meeting
The second Liaison Group meeting was held on the 26th September. The meeting focused on the outline variable list drafted after discussions with the expert groups (Data and Policy) over the Summer. Several topics related to the drafting of the variable list were discussed with the group at the meeting. There was an opportunity for all the members to review the variable list over a two-week period and feedback any observations/commentary to the office. Comprehensive feedback was received and reviewed by the questionnaire development team. A final list of variables to proceed to the testing phase was released to the Liaison Group.

The agenda from the Liaison Group meeting is currently published on the website and the minutes from Group will be published once they are agreed by the group.

4. Finance
An annual payment to the CSO from the Dept. of Justice and Equality was agreed as preferable to reduce administrative burden on both organisations. The CSO will confirm with their Finance Unit. It was agreed that the CSO will an update through the established steering group meeting structure on spend during the year.

5. Next meeting
CSO proposed March as the date for the next official Steering Group meeting in Cork. They will confirm the date in 2020.

6. AOB
No further discussion points identified.

 

Action

Owner

Confirm an annual payment with CSO Finance unit, Prepare invoice for 2020 funding

CSO

Process payment of invoice

DJE

Confirm date for March meeting

CSO