Data Management Aid
Level 3, House 8/A/Ka, Road 13 (New)
Dhanmondi
Dhaka 1209
Bangladesh
ph: +880-2-9144400
alt: +8801711533451
info
Now-a-days Smartphones are increasingly used in social surveys as a data collection and data recording tool. DMA has experience in using Smartphones/Tablets and has successfully implemented multiple Smartphone-based surveys.
When doing the interview using SmartPhones, enumerators reads each question in Bangla off the screen, just as if they were using paper questionnaires. Each household will be stored as an independent record in the secured server.
The use of SmartPhone gives significant benefits over traditional paper-based surveys. Using SmartPhone-based questionnaires greatly reduces survey error, especially data entry error. In a SmartPhone-based survey, as data is being entered it is subject to validation, i.e. it is controlled on the spot for possible errors (numbers out of range, percentages that do not add up to 100%, etc.) and some questions may be enabled or disabled on the basis of replies to the previous questions. In addition, all logic rules, such as skips to other questions or avoids, are controlled by the SmartPhone and not by the enumerator. Such rules are automatic, taking the enumerator to the next relevant question. This is particularly useful in complex, multi-indicator surveys.
As part of the interview the SmartPhone-based surveys enables to capture signatures, take pictures or videos and even record voice and attach it to any of surveys.
Using SmartPhone-based survey instead of paper based questionnaire also reduces the time needed for data collection and processing. Once data is collected with paper-based surveys, each questionnaire then has to be entered into a database by a data-entry clerk, and then cleaned of errors by a data analyst. With a Smartphone-based survey there is no need for a subsequent data entry process since the data is entered directly into a data file. This greatly reduces data entry errors (these are the largest single source of error for a survey).
Moreover, for each household GPS coordinates are stored automatically.
SmartPhone-based surveys are environmentally friendlier. In addition, it reduces the logistics burden of carrying many questionnaires around the field and then storing them in the office.
Copyright 2020-21 Data Management Aid. All rights reserved.
Updated: December 2020
Data Management Aid
Level 3, House 8/A/Ka, Road 13 (New)
Dhanmondi
Dhaka 1209
Bangladesh
ph: +880-2-9144400
alt: +8801711533451
info