In the Field: DIL-E4C Mobile Data Collection Series
The wide-spread availability of phone-based communications, and the increasing availability of smartphones and tablets offers international development researchers, practitioners, and students an array of new tools and techniques for collecting field data. This includes new methods for administering surveys that can improve upon traditional pen and paper surveys with novel, real-time, electronic data capture. As adoption of ICTs by development researchers and organizations becomes more widespread, additional uses have emerged – from data collection for monitoring, visualization, and analysis.
In collaboration with Engineering for Change( E4C), the DIL-E4C Mobile Data Collection Webinar Series provides researchers, development practitioners, and funders with an introduction to a sample of survey software tools transforming the collection of data for international development research and how they might implement each tool within their own work. Learn about some of these platforms below and check out recordings from the series on YouTube here.
engageSPARK enables anyone, anywhere to build and launch SMS and Voice Call alerts, surveys, reminders, educational curicula and on-demand information campaigns. NGOs and governments anywhere can use engageSPARK to share their messages with anybody in the world who has a mobile phone. engageSPARK is based in Cebu City, Philippines.
KoBoToolbox is a suite of free, open-source tools for field data collection in challenging environments. Most users are people working in humanitarian crises, aid professionals or researchers working in developing countries. KoBoToolbox is based in Cambridge, MA, USA.
Open Data Kit( ODK) is an open-source, modular set of tools for building mobile data collection systems. It is an out-of-the-box solution for organizations to create, deploy, and manage mobile data collection solutions. The goal is to create an ecosystem of data collection tools. ODK is based in Seattle, WA, USA.
Premise blends mobile technology with a global network of paid contributors in 34 countries. Together they generate insights that enable decision makers to monitor global issues such as the price and availability of food, access to health and human services, and the progress of government revenue recovery efforts. Premise is based in San Francisco, CA, USA.
SurveyCTO is a field-tested technology platform that collects data using mobile phones, tablets, or computers. Organizations can collect data online or offline, access data as soon as it’ s collected, keep data secure, and ensure data quality with SurveyCTO’ s powerful quality-control features. SurveyCTO is based in Boston, MA, USA.
VOTO Mobile employs interactive SMS( text messages) and voice calls to enable businesses and organizations to share information and gather feedback. VOTO Mobile is based in Accra, Ghana.
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