RIH Fair Square
The Research and Innovations Hub is committed to hiring outstanding individuals for our research and data collection projects. Knowing that enumerators play a key role in every research process, we ensure that individuals interested in becoming a part of our database go through a fair standard recruitment process. Our trademarked “RIH Fair Square” process is generally open to individuals with or without experience in data collection.
RIH Fair Square Process
1. Application (Call for Enumerators)
The Research and Innovations Hub posts a call for enumerators vacancies on her social media pages (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and also shares the application link with other social and professional groups. Application links last for a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks.
2. Recruitment Training
Enumerator is an entry-level position in the research and evaluation field. Therefore, we perform light screening on the application. We invite and conduct entry-level training for all applicants. The presentation is done in person. The training covers key Ethical Guidelines, Characteristics of Enumerators, and Tips for a successful interview, Common Research Questions, Importance of Data Collection; It also covers major data cleaning challenges that come from enumerators’ data entry and questionnaire interpretation errors. (Recruitment Training Presentation Template)
3. Post-training Assessment
Applicants who fully participate in our entry-level “Data Collector Recruitment Training” are scheduled for a post-training assessment that covers 40% training of the materials, 40% real-life field scenarios, and 20% arithmetic. Participants complete the assessment using one of our recommended electronic platforms (SurveyCTO & Google Quiz) that automatically provides test scores immediately after submission of assessment responses.
We use a standard of 50% and above test scores to select potential data collectors from the total applicants who participate in the assessment. Based on the post-training assessment score from the post-training assessment, successful applicants are forwarded to the next round of the application process which is completing the CITI training course. The remaining applicants who did not meet the required score are considered unsuccessful and are kept in the loop for our next recruitment process.
4. Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Certification) (Social and Behavioral Research Basic Course)
To assist potential data collectors in completing this step of the application process, an email is sent to all successful applicants to complete the CITI training and subsequently forward their certificates to RIH. In this email, we highlight steps for registering on the CITI platforms, which might be difficult for several applicants. We also make the process flexible by hosting online guidance meetings for candidates who still face challenges in the process. In addition, RIH managers’ phone numbers are provided for one-on-one guidance.
The course covers several research and ethics-related topics, which include:
Human Subjects Considerations and Big Data Research
Belmont Report and Its Principles
Defining Research with Human Subjects
Informed Consent
Privacy and Confidentiality
Conflicts of Interest in Human Subjects Research
Unanticipated Problems and Reporting Requirements in Social and Behavioral Research
5. Enumerator Database
Enumerators who complete their CITI course and submit their certificates through our enumerator profile form automatically enter our database and are fully qualified to be selected to work on projects with RIH.
6. Hiring Process
Because we always have more than enough projects ready and qualified enumerators in our database, we hire based on past project performance, experience working on similar projects with RIH or other firms, and results from post-assessment if you haven’t had the opportunity to work with RIH in the past. We ensure that every single enumerator has the opportunity to work with us on a research project over time.