KoboToolbox lets teams collect survey data on phones, even without internet, and keep it organised in one place. A little planning makes the difference between clean data and a messy spreadsheet.
1. Plan the questionnaire on paper first
- List the questions you really need and remove the rest.
- Decide the answer type for each question: text, number, single choice, multiple choice, date or location.
- Mark which questions are required.
2. Build the form
Create the form in KoboToolbox and use its tools to keep data clean: required fields, answer limits (for example age between 0 and 120), and skip logic so people only see questions that apply to them.
3. Test on a real phone
Deploy the form and fill it in with the Android data collection app. Test it offline too. Ask a colleague to complete it without your help and note every question that confuses them.
4. Train the data collectors
- Practise interviews with the form before the real survey.
- Explain consent and how to protect personal information.
- Show them how to send (sync) their data when they have a connection.
5. Monitor while collecting
Check the submissions every day. Look for missing answers, duplicates and strange values early, while you can still ask the data collector to correct them.
6. Export, back up and analyse
Export the data to Excel or CSV (or SPSS) and keep a backup copy in a safe place. Keep a record of any corrections you make so your analysis can be repeated.
Need help?
AfroTechna sets up KoboToolbox, ODK and Google Forms surveys, trains your data collectors and analyses the results.