The work of the National Computer Assisted Telephone Interview Technical Reference Group (CATI TRG) under the National Public Health Partnership has emphasized the need to establish question and module development standards in the Computer Assisted Survey Information Collection (CASIC) environment that can be utilised in CATI health surveys across Australia. This has been seen as important so that measurement error in the CASIC environment can be reduced as well as providing greater harmonisation of the results of different CASIC data collection activities. This overview of question/module development principles and practices provides a guide to the various stages that are required to ensure that 'best practice' question development is followed.

This document outlines principles and practices for the development of consistent and uniform questions (or sets of questions) in CASIC. It covers the identification and assessment of questions, key processes in the development of questions and the processes to test validity and reliability. In addition, subsequent fieldwork issues, interviewer feedback and reporting on questions are outlined.

Occasional Paper No. 4

Implementing evidence from research, into policy, and then practice, is a challenging task, glistening with opportunities and fraught with practical difficulties and political realities. This case study describes a process of taking research evidence, embedding it into policy and then implementing and making it happen 'on the ground', as a 'live' early intervention program in South Australia.

Evidence on the level of disadvantage of people living in particular geographic locations in metropolitan Adelaide, and research on effective early intervention programs for disadvantaged families with infants were used to support policy directions and to gain funding to establish a pilot program. A community development approach was adopted, and strategies used to ensure the participation of those communities in the design and establishment of the program are also discussed. A number of key criteria were identified to support the successful transition from research, to policy, to planning and practice, and these are reviewed in the light of experience.

This is a sobering tale, with exciting outcomes but a number of important lessons, which may be helpful to others seeking to ensure the successful implementation of early intervention programs for children and their families in Australia.

Authored by PHIDU

The International Poverty and Health Network (IPHN) was created in December 1997, following a series of conferences organised by the World Health Organization with the aim of integrating health into plans to eradicate poverty. The network's formation was a response to the evidence of the persistent and growing burden of human suffering due to poverty. We invite others to join the endeavour.

Working Paper No. 7