Agency Survey

The sampling frame for the agency survey was developed by obtaining, from participating Second Harvest food banks, lists of all active agencies served by each of the food banks. When MPR received these lists, they were entered into a database to be used for the agency survey. The agency survey sample consisted of a census of the agencies provided by the participating food banks.

After entering a food bank's list of active agencies into the database, MPR staff printed bar-coded mailing labels to identify the agencies and their addresses. MPR then shipped the proper number of questionnaires, bar-coded labels, and mailing envelopes to each of the participating food banks. Some food banks mailed advance letters informing agencies of the planned survey. Study coordinators were instructed, at the training and in the manual, how to assemble and mail the questionnaires. Each envelope included a personalized cover letter.

The cover letter and the instructions on the questionnaire stated that the agency should complete the questionnaire and mail it back to MPR. In most instances, agencies mailed the questionnaire back to MPR. Some food banks collected the questionnaires from their agencies and mailed them to MPR in bulk. When MPR received a questionnaire, it was logged into a database by scanning the bar code on the mailing label. Each week, MPR sent a fax to the food banks listing all the questionnaires received the previous week. These faxes helped the food bank study coordinators schedule reminder calls and also were the basis for a second mailing of questionnaires to agencies that did not return the first one within four weeks of the initial mailing. Food banks were also asked to tell MPR about agencies that no longer provided food services so that they could be identified as ineligible in the database.

After the questionnaires were logged in the database as received, they were boxed for shipment to a subcontractor for data capture and imaging. The subcontractor optically scanned all questionnaires and produced data files and CD-ROMs with images of each completed questionnaire for MPR. Chart 3.3.1 summarizes the process of the agency survey.