THE ONGOING FIELD TEST IN BELIZE: IMPROVING MOBILE DATA COLLECTION

8 December 2015

Interviewers began fieldwork using new and refined data collection tools.

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Following a successful training on the methodology of the MICS field test in Belize, two teams – each composed of seven interviewers and one supervisor – are collecting data in the field accompanied by members of the MICS team and supported by UNICEF Belize, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), and other national partners. Fieldwork is for 12 days in 20 clusters in the Stann Creek district of Belize.

Below, Ivana Bjelic, data processing specialist, and Shane M. Khan, household survey specialist, members of the UNICEF global MICS team, comment on a number of innovations in data collection for the field test.

 

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A MICS interviewer uses a tablet computer to administer a questionnaire.
©UNICEF HQ/2015/Benali

Q: What is the overall objective of the field test as it relates to data processing?

I. Bjelic: Over the past years, MICS has increased the support to countries for collecting data using mobile devices such as tablets. This field test in Belize is an ideal opportunity to study how to improve the overall performance of the data collection system we use with tablets and other mobile devices. CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) is in high demand and as such, MICS is working to meet these demands.

 

Q: What is innovative about this field test?

I. Bjelic: Without a doubt, countries are demanding to use more varied types of devices to collect data. Thus far, in MICS we have recommended the use of Windows operating systems for which we have a lot of experience with, especially as it relates to CSPro, which is the software used to enter the data in the field. However, in Belize, we are examining the possibility of using Android operating systems to do the same kind of data collection. This will provide us with the relevant experience to support countries better.

In addition to collecting the usual MICS data, we are also taking photographs, with the permission of the households. These will be used to validate some of the data we routinely collect in MICS and also assess if this is a feasible method of data collection for future MICS surveys.

 

Q: How will you examine if any of this is working?

S. Khan: Throughout the activity, we are using a number of different approaches to tell us how the tools are performing. We are using structured observations of the field workers to see the ease of implementation of the different approaches. This will also be underpinned by a structured focus group discussion with the field workers and field supervisors.

 

Read more on the details of the field test from previous posts:

Field Testing for MICS in November: Outcomes from the Recent Global MICS Consultation – read the news story

MICS Begins Interviewer training for Field Test in Belize – read the news story

 

Below are some additional photographs from the field (click to enlarge):

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