Electronic data collection brings together questionnaire design, programming, testing, field procedures and ongoing monitoring. For over 10 years, I have gathered experience developing and programming survey instruments with SurveyCTO, KoboCollect, SurveyToGo, Survey Solutions, Qualtrics and ODK, alongside working knowledge of CSPro/CSEntry. It also includes field operations, facilitation and training.
How I approach the work
For me, programming is where a static questionnaire becomes an active, reliable research tool. It goes far beyond simply typing questions into a software form. My focus is on shaping the interview into a natural, intuitive flow on the tablet—building strict skip logic, sensible validation ranges, and precise constraints directly into the tool. I put serious weight on stress-testing instruments before anyone travels to the field. Pushing forms through thorough simulated interviews is how we catch clumsy phrasing, broken logic loops, and missing answer codes while fixes take minutes, rather than letting those mistakes derail live field teams.
Once fieldwork kicks off, technology has to work hand-in-hand with field realities. Even the best-coded form will fail if enumerators and supervisors aren't fully aligned on the protocol. That is why I emphasize practical, scenario-based training so teams understand not just which buttons to tap, but why certain questions matter. During active data collection, my oversight focuses on daily, proactive monitoring. The goal is to spot inconsistencies early, follow up on flags immediately, and carefully separate genuine field anomalies or data-entry errors from rare but legitimate ground truths. Every survey environment is different, and keeping data dependable means sticking strictly to an agreed-upon quality assurance plan from day one to wrap-up..
What this looks like in practice
My experience includes programming questionnaires and supporting survey implementation using several digital collection platforms. Server setup and questionnaire programming for Survey Solutions are also listed in my CV. Specific responsibilities vary by project; this page does not imply that I led every field team or administered every platform on every engagement.
Relevant areas of work
- Questionnaire programming
- Form testing and validation
- SurveyCTO, ODK and KoboCollect workflows
- Survey Solutions setup and programming
- Field coordination and survey monitoring
- Facilitation and training
Tools and platforms
The following links lead to official tool or organisation websites. They are provided as references; they do not imply endorsement or a formal partnership.