In each country, the organisation is either a commercial market research firms (in most countries), or a group within a university (in Indonesia and Egypt).  So, most of the credit for the WAS survey data should go to the following organisations:
  • India: Indian Market Research Bureau Ltd, Central Hall, Khan Market, New Delhi, India. www.imrbint.com
  • Brazil: Marplan Brasil Representacoes e Pesquisas Ltda, Av. Nove de Julho 40, 8o Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. www.marplan.com.br
  • South Africa: Markinor (Pty) Ltd, 2nd floor, East Block, Tannery Park, 23a Belmont Rd, PO Box 441, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa. www.markinor.co.za
  • Indonesia: Demographic Institute, University of Indonesia, Gedung A, Lantai 2 & 3, Depok 16424, Jakarta, Indonesia. www.ui.ac.id 
  • Nigeria: Research & Marketing Services Ltd., 26 Odozi Street, Ojodu, P.O. box 8225, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. www.rms-africa.com/nigeria.htm
  • Kenya: SBO Research Ltd. (formerly called Strategic Business Opportunities Ltd.), SBO House, Jabavu Lane  off Argwings Kodhek Rd, Hurlingham, Nairobi;  contact address P.O. Box 10567, 00400 Nairobi, Kenya. www.sboresearch.com
  • Egypt: Center for Survey & Statistical Application (C.S.S.A.), Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences, Cairo University, Orman, Giza, Cairo, Egypt. www.cu.edu.eg
  • Chad: CIBLE Tchad, Avenue Paul Tripier Prolongement Tamoil N'Djamena, Tchad B.P. 1922.  www.groupe-cible.com
  • Cameroon: CIBLE 1473, Bld de la République, Akwa, B.P. 3462, Douala, Cameroun.  www.groupe-cible.com
  • Congo-Brazzaville: CIBLE RH & ETUDES Congo-Brazzaville, 3ème étage, 33 rue Haoussa, Poto-Poto, Brazzaville, Congo. www.groupe-cible.com
In each country, the interviewing organisation has been responsible for almost all aspects of the WAS surveys, except for choosing the questions. Each organisation hired interviewers, supervisors, and typists (except Brazil, which was typed by John Simister), and carried out various checks on the data. Each of the agencies also chose the sample, using methods standard in that country;  in each case, ‘cluster sampling’ was used (this means choosing a location at random, and carrying out several interviews in that street or neighbourhood).  The locations of interviews were generally chosen by negotiation between the fieldwork agency and John Simister.  All interviews were carried out in or near the respondent’s home.
element_settings.Image_30621876.defaultDr. John Simister
John Simister commissioned and paid for each WAS survey.  John also wrote the questionnaires, in collaboration with the organisations listed.  He began the WAS surveys as part of his study of household spending in India, for his PhD at the University of London (Birkbeck College & SOAS). ​

​After completing his PhD, John continued to collect data for his academic research (for details of publications to date, see Publications Using WAS Data). John is currently Senior Lecturer of Accounting, Finance and Economics at MMU Business School, Manchester.

The aim of WAS surveys is to give insights in the process of economic development in poor countries, to help campaigners & politicians to understand what problems exist, and possible solutions.  Specific topics include access to sufficient food;  women’s control over household decisions;  domestic violence; and ‘sexist’ (often called “traditional”) attitudes.

Underlying the WAS surveys is the hypothesis that work (paid and unpaid) is fundamental to household survival in poor countries, because there is usually little “welfare state” benefits in less-developed countries.  Household spending is fundamental to household well-being.  The “children fare better” approach suggests it is better for children if mothers earn and/or control spending:   they claim many households experience hunger even though the household income seems sufficient (because money is spent on luxuries such as alcohol, gambling, and prostitution). The attitudes of household members may be an important intervening variable:  for example, some women earn money but hand all of their earnings to their husband, and this may be because such women feel it is their duty to obey their husband (perhaps for religious or cultural reasons).
​
John Simister.