A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects
There is growing use of household surveys by conservation organizations as they seek to measure the social impacts of conservation initiatives, especially in developing countries. Several recent health-sector studies suggest that computer-aided personal interviewing may be a cheaper and faster alter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/2/264 |
| _version_ | 1819112493338853376 |
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| author | Craig Leisher |
| author_facet | Craig Leisher |
| author_sort | Craig Leisher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is growing use of household surveys by conservation organizations as they seek to measure the social impacts of conservation initiatives, especially in developing countries. Several recent health-sector studies suggest that computer-aided personal interviewing may be a cheaper and faster alternative to the traditional paper-based interviewing. Here, a comparison of The Nature Conservancy-funded tablet computer-based and paper-based household surveys is presented. Because the tablet and paper surveys were not identical except for the data collection tool, the results are suggestive. In the comparison, the cost per completed interview for the tablet-based survey was 74% less than the paper-based survey average, and the average time per interview question for the tablet-based survey was 46% less than the paper-based survey average. The cost saving came primarily from less need for data cleaning and lower enumerator fees. The time saving came primarily from faster data entry. The results suggest that there may be substantial savings in costs and time when using tablets rather than paper for survey data collection in a developing country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:14:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c929353528d546e4882635e2751666ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:14:23Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c929353528d546e4882635e2751666ac2022-12-21T18:39:27ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602014-05-013226427110.3390/socsci3020264socsci3020264A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation ProjectsCraig Leisher0Central Science, The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, USAThere is growing use of household surveys by conservation organizations as they seek to measure the social impacts of conservation initiatives, especially in developing countries. Several recent health-sector studies suggest that computer-aided personal interviewing may be a cheaper and faster alternative to the traditional paper-based interviewing. Here, a comparison of The Nature Conservancy-funded tablet computer-based and paper-based household surveys is presented. Because the tablet and paper surveys were not identical except for the data collection tool, the results are suggestive. In the comparison, the cost per completed interview for the tablet-based survey was 74% less than the paper-based survey average, and the average time per interview question for the tablet-based survey was 46% less than the paper-based survey average. The cost saving came primarily from less need for data cleaning and lower enumerator fees. The time saving came primarily from faster data entry. The results suggest that there may be substantial savings in costs and time when using tablets rather than paper for survey data collection in a developing country.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/2/264androidiPadcomputer-aided personal interviewinghousehold survey |
| spellingShingle | Craig Leisher A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects Social Sciences android iPad computer-aided personal interviewing household survey |
| title | A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects |
| title_full | A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects |
| title_fullStr | A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects |
| title_short | A Comparison of Tablet-Based and Paper-Based Survey Data Collection in Conservation Projects |
| title_sort | comparison of tablet based and paper based survey data collection in conservation projects |
| topic | android iPad computer-aided personal interviewing household survey |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/2/264 |
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