Digital Data Collection Training

April 7, 2015

Abt Associates | pg 2

Contents

Preparing Your Computer

Protecting Data

Entering Data Into Forms

Saving a Draft

Abt Associates | pg 3

Preparing Your Computer (1/3)

The computer you use for the data collection effort should be as “clean” as possible. Your machine at that point should be intended for the single purpose of data collection.

This means that when you are collecting data:– You should have no extra programs running and no other internet tabs open.

– To the extent possible, you should move files from your desktop to other folders as this may improve performance

Abt Associates | pg 4

Preparing Your Computer (2/3)

Downloading Chrome. Before training begins ensure you have an updated version of Google

Chrome downloaded onto your machine. To download it for the first time visit: http://www.google.com/chrome.

If you already have Chrome on your machine, ensure it is up to date by reviewing the instructions here.

Abt Associates | pg 5

Preparing Your Computer (3/3)

Adding survey links as bookmarks. The 6 survey sections are linked below. Please open them in your browser and save them sequentially as easily assessable bookmarks. Instructions on how to add bookmarks to your bookmarks toolbar are here.

– Sections 1-4

– Sections 5-7

– Sections 8.1-8.3

– Sections 8.4-8.5

– Sections 8.6-8.10

– Sections 9-11

Abt Associates | pg 6

Contents

Preparing Your Computer

Protecting Data

Entering Data Into Forms

Saving a Draft

Abt Associates | pg 7

Entering Data (1/3) The Tab button is your best friend when completing the

surveys. The tab button will move you from your current place in the survey to the next place.

Pressing Shift + tab will move you backward to the previous place. Do this means that you do not need to use your mouse every time you want to answer a new question.

To save data as a draft and later recall that draft, please read the post here for instructions. It’s also included later in this document for your convenience.

Abt Associates | pg 8

Entering Data (2/3)

WARNING! When entering numbers, your scroll wheel might accidentally adjust the

number you have just typed. To address this, either avoid using the scroll wheel or ensure you’ve clicked away from a number cell before continuing.

Abt Associates | pg 9

Entering Data (3/3)

For certain fields, we ask that you enter the numbers twice. This is to ensure that the lengthy number is entered correctly. If it is not identical, it will appear like this

In many cases for lengthy number, you can enter commas yourself to keep track of the lengthy number, but they are allowed at any point in the number. Be careful to only enter commas after every third number.

Abt Associates | pg 10

Contents

Preparing Your Computer

Protecting Data

Entering Data Into Forms

Saving a Draft

Abt Associates | pg 11

Protecting the Data (1/2)

The web-based survey instrument is designed to work off-line and handle technology issues well. Anything that is saved as a draft should be recoverable if you

– Accidentally close the browser and need to reopen it

– Accidentally turn off your machine

During the initial training, you should intentionally close your browser and shut off your machine to understand the potential for data loss. This should provide you with confidence and experience on how to recover data.

Training Exercise!

Abt Associates | pg 12

Protecting the Data (2/2)

WARNING! The only way to lose your data is to clear your browsers cache or

cookies. DO NOT clear the browsers cache or cookies. Doing so will cause you

to lose any data that’s submitted.

Abt Associates | pg 13

Contents

Preparing Your Computer

Protecting Data

Entering Data Into Forms

Saving a Draft

Abt Associates | pg 14

Saving a Draft (1/2)

Source: http://blog.enketo.org/draft-records

This software was built from the ground up to be offline-capable, i.e. to be able to launch offline and to save records persistently in the browser until some time in the future when a connection is available and they can be uploaded to the server. This means that saving records as a draft did not require major changes in the existing architecture.

Draft records will never be submitted to the server and are easily recognizable in the sidebar (with a little pencil icon). To load a draft record, simply click on it.

Abt Associates | pg 15

Saving a Draft (2/2)

Source: http://blog.enketo.org/draft-records

Saved drafts appear in the left hand bar.

When a record is saved without marking it as a 'draft', it is considered cleared for uploading as soon as a connection is available. Enketo will attempt to upload it immediately.

Abt Associates

Acknowledgements

These materials were developed by staff of Abt Associates’ Client Technology Center for the SHOPS Project’s work in Uganda.