Making the most of imperfect data: A critical evaluation of standard information collected in farm household surveys

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research instituteen
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Livestock Research Instituteen
cg.contributor.affiliationWorld Agroforestry Centreen
cg.contributor.affiliationWageningen University & Researchen
cg.contributor.affiliationCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australiaen
cg.contributor.affiliationBangor Universityen
cg.contributor.crpLivestock
cg.creator.identifierSimon Fraval: 0000-0002-2936-2537en
cg.creator.identifierNils Teufel: 0000-0001-5305-6620en
cg.creator.identifierMario Herrero: 0000-0002-7741-5090en
cg.creator.identifierKen E Giller: 0000-0002-5998-4652en
cg.creator.identifierTodd Rosenstock: 0000-0002-1958-9500en
cg.creator.identifierTim Pagella: 0000-0001-5926-9299en
cg.creator.identifierMats Lannerstad: 0000-0002-5116-3198en
cg.creator.identifierMark van Wijk: 0000-0003-0728-8839en
cg.howPublishedFormally Publisheden
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1017/s0014479718000388en
cg.identifier.urlhttps://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutputs/making-the-most-of-imperfect-data-a-critical-evaluation-of-standard-information-collected-in-farm-household-surveys(3176104a-6303-470e-9db6-b36b5f7673d9).htmlen
cg.isijournalISI Journalen
cg.issn1469-4441en
cg.issue2en
cg.journalExperimental Agricultureen
cg.reviewStatusPeer Reviewen
cg.subject.ilriDATAen
cg.subject.ilriFARM MANAGEMENTen
cg.subject.ilriFOOD SECURITYen
cg.volume55en
dc.contributor.authorFraval, Simonen
dc.contributor.authorHammond, Jamesen
dc.contributor.authorWichern, Jannikeen
dc.contributor.authorOosting, Simon J.en
dc.contributor.authorBoer, Imke J.M. deen
dc.contributor.authorTeufel, Nilsen
dc.contributor.authorLannerstad, Matsen
dc.contributor.authorWaha, Katharinaen
dc.contributor.authorPagella, Timen
dc.contributor.authorRosenstock, Todd S.en
dc.contributor.authorGiller, Kenneth E.en
dc.contributor.authorHerrero, Marioen
dc.contributor.authorHarris, Daviden
dc.contributor.authorWijk, Mark T. vanen
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-02T12:47:11Zen
dc.date.available2019-01-02T12:47:11Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/98925
dc.titleMaking the most of imperfect data: A critical evaluation of standard information collected in farm household surveysen
dcterms.abstractHousehold surveys are one of the most commonly used tools for generating insight into rural communities. Despite their prevalence, few studies comprehensively evaluate the quality of data derived from farm household surveys. We critically evaluated a series of standard reported values and indicators that are captured in multiple farm household surveys, and then quantified their credibility, consistency and, thus, their reliability. Surprisingly, even variables which might be considered ‘easy to estimate’ had instances of non-credible observations. In addition, measurements of maize yields and land owned were found to be less reliable than other stationary variables. This lack of reliability has implications for monitoring food security status, poverty status and the land productivity of households. Despite this rather bleak picture, our analysis also shows that if the same farm households are followed over time, the sample sizes needed to detect substantial changes are in the order of hundreds of surveys, and not in the thousands. Our research highlights the value of targeted and systematised household surveys and the importance of ongoing efforts to improve data quality. Improvements must be based on the foundations of robust survey design, transparency of experimental design and effective training. The quality and usability of such data can be further enhanced by improving coordination between agencies, incorporating mixed modes of data collection and continuing systematic validation programmes.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceScientistsen
dcterms.available2018-12-18en
dcterms.bibliographicCitationFraval, S., Hammond, J., Wicher, J., Oosting, S.J., Boer, I.J.M de, Teufel, N., Lannerstad, M., Waha, K., Pagella, T., Rosenstock, T.S., Giller, K.E., Herrero, M., Harris, D. and Wijk, M. van. 2018. Making the most of imperfect data: A critical evaluation of standard information collected in farm household surveys. Experimental Agriculture 55(2): 230-250en
dcterms.extentp. 230-250en
dcterms.issued2019-04en
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; all rights reserved
dcterms.publisherCambridge University Pressen
dcterms.subjectdataen
dcterms.subjecthouseholdsen
dcterms.subjectfood securityen
dcterms.subjectinformationen
dcterms.subjectfarmsen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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