About the Study
In 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), and funded contractor Mathematica to develop Resources for Quantitative Surveys on Child Labor. The goal of this project was to identify challenges and develop accessible guidance related to sampling, data collection and analysis for researchers. The resulting resources and videos can be used by researchers, including OCFT grantees, who want to conduct household-based surveys to understand the nature and prevalence of child labor in a given geographic area.
This Department of Labor-funded study arose from ILAB’s learning agenda. It contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform ILAB grantee data collection design, analysis and reporting.
- Resources for Quantitative Surveys on Child Labor (Report, November 2018)
- Sampling Video #1 – Introduction (Video Supplement, November 2018)
- This video presents an introduction to sampling and analysis for researchers conducting child labor research.
- Sampling Video #2 - Define the population of interest (Video Supplement, November 2018)
- This video presents information on defining the population of interest for researchers conducting child labor research.
- Sampling Video #3 - Develop a sampling design (Video Supplement, November 2018)
- This video presents information on developing a sampling design and sampling frame for researchers conducting child labor research.
- Sampling Video #4 - Choose sample sizes with the template (Video Supplement and Spreadsheet Template, November 2018)
- This video presents information on choosing sample sizes using the template linked below.
- Template
- Sampling Video #5 - Analyze and report the data (Video Supplement and Spreadsheet Template, November 2018)
- This video presents information on analyzing and reporting the data using the template linked below.
- Template
- This review identified challenges throughout the research process, including during sampling, survey development, data collection, analysis and reporting, and releasing data for public use.
- The above resources and tools can help researchers to overcome common challenges in developing sampling frames and conducting household-based prevalence surveys.
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.