Development agencies, governments and research bodies increasingly collect data on phones and tablets rather than paper. Mobile tools remove data entry delays and allow built-in checks, but they also make it easy to deploy a poorly designed instrument at scale. Good evidence still depends on sound survey design, sensible sampling and disciplined supervision.

This course joins the methodological and technical halves of data collection. Participants begin by connecting evaluation questions to indicators and data sources, then work through questionnaire design, question wording, response scales, translation and cognitive testing. They learn how sampling frames, stratification, clustering and sample size calculations shape the credibility of findings. The practical core of the course is building and deploying electronic forms with open-source tools, including calculations, relevance rules, media capture and offline operation, followed by server management and secure handling of personal data.

The final sessions concentrate on monitoring the data collection process itself: enumerator training, field supervision, real-time quality dashboards, back-checking and cleaning. Delegates complete a mini survey in the training room, from instrument to first analysis, and prepare a data collection plan for a live or planned project.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Translate evaluation questions and indicators into data collection requirements.
• Write clear, unbiased survey questions and structure a questionnaire logically.
• Select a sampling approach and calculate a sample size for a given design.
• Build mobile forms with skip logic, validation and repeat groups in ODK or KoboToolbox.
• Deploy, test and synchronise forms on Android devices.
• Apply informed consent and data protection practices in the field.
• Monitor data quality using supervision, back-checks and automated flags.
• Clean and document survey data ready for analysis.

The course is suited to those who plan or manage data collection, including:

• Monitoring and evaluation officers and managers
• Survey coordinators and field supervisors
• Research officers in universities and think tanks
• Programme managers in NGOs and development projects
• Statisticians and data officers in government agencies
• Baseline and endline survey consultants
• Health, agriculture and education programme monitoring staff
• Database administrators supporting field projects

Participants return to work with:

• A piloted mobile questionnaire built from their own indicator list.
• A sampling plan with a worked sample size calculation.
• An enumerator training outline and field manual headings.
• A data quality assurance checklist and back-check protocol.
• A consent script and data protection guide for field teams.
• A step-by-step data collection plan for an upcoming exercise.

Participants learn by building and testing instruments, using:

• Facilitator demonstrations on laptops and Android phones or tablets
• Guided labs in XLSForm, KoboToolbox and ODK Collect
• A mini field survey conducted among the group, with data uploaded and reviewed
• Critique sessions on real questionnaires with flaws to identify
• Clinics on each participant's own project data needs

Delegates who attend all sessions and submit their completed form and data collection plan receive a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.