2 research outputs found
Computerized tablet based versus traditional paper- based survey methods: results from adolescent's health research in schools of Maharashtra, India
Background and challenges to implementation
Technological advancement is growing very fast
in India and majority of young population is handling electronic devices often
during leisure as well as at work. This study indicates that electronic tablets
are less time consuming and improves survey response rate over the traditional paper-pencil
survey method.
Intervention or response
An Android-based Global School-based Health
Survey (GSHS) questionnaire was used with the help of an Open Data Kit to
assess adolescent's health. Effectiveness of tablet survey was tested in 15
public schools of Mumbai, India over traditional paper-pencil survey method. The
questionnaire was administered in three different languages. Tablet and Paper
surveys were simultaneously and alternatively used i.e. first tablet followed
by paper pencil in one school and in next school, first paper and then tablet
to balance uniformity in the survey method.
Results and lessons learnt
A total of 600 students aged 13-17 years were covered in the survey for this
experimental study. Interestingly all sampled students participated in the survey.
The overall response rate using tablet survey
was higher than the paper
based survey method. Average time
taken to fill in the tablet survey was lesser as compared to the paper based survey. It is remarkable to state that missing values on
paper for most variables were more as compared to the tablet. Most of the
students favoured tablet method of data collection as they found it very user
friendly, convenient, less human error while filling the answers and less time
taking.
Conclusions and key recommendations
Use of electronic tablets for conducting public
health surveys suggests an improved response rate and time saving as compared
to traditional paper based survey methods. Thus, the present study strongly
recommends that tablet method of data collection may be the best method and can
be used as effective, economic and quick survey method in future