Social Da

PERSONAL INTERVIEWING BY USING A HAND-HELD COMPUTER

INTRODUCTION

This research is investigating alternative methods of collecting socioeconomic data in order to reduce the effort involved in acquiring the information. Current data collection methods are time consuming and costly. The use of a hand-held field computer to collect socioeconomic data could reduce the time taken to make the data available for use. Consequently, the data will be more up-to-date and relevant. In the context of informal settlement management this would give the scope for constant monitoring in order to detect changes in household composition and shack movement and other changes that can occur in a dynamic environment such as an informal settlement.

AIM

The overall purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of a hand-held field computer to collect socioeconomic data.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF USING A FIELD COMPUTER TO COLLECT SOCIOECONOMIC DATA

Data is in digital format, therefore

Data does not need to be processed and prepared for analysis because it is already in the required format.

Eliminates :

The possibility of errors occurring when transcribing data from the questionnaires to computer database.

Loss of data that is associated with losing paper-based questionnaires.

Faster access to the data once it has been collected and downloaded to a PC.

Data can be spatially referenced with the addition of a GPS to the field computer.

EQUIPMENT

Palm Pilot Professional
Cybertracker Software

APPROACH

After investigating what hardware and software was available locally, it was decided to use the Palm Pilot Professional and Cybertracker Software. These were used in a previous study to collect data about animal behaviour and migratory habits in Game Parks.
Various social survey questionnaires were analysed to determine what types of data were generally collected and what format the responses took.
The data collection screens used in Cybertracker Software were customised so that it could be used to collect socioeconomic data.
A pilot study was conducted to test the suitability of each data collection screen as well as the usability of the Palm Pilot.

PILOT STUDY

Background Information

The Community of Algeria, in the Cedarberg Mountains of the Western Cape have applied for ownership of the land and houses that they have been occupying for most of their lives. A non-governmental organisation called the Surplus Peoples` Project (SPP) are involved in facilitating this process of transferring ownership. In order to do this, they required certain information about the community such as:

House Number
House Characteristics

Is there running water

Electricity

Is the house made of brick OR wood

Do they have a garden

Is there an outbuilding next to the house

Household composition

Number of adult males and females
Number of boys and girls

Number of people per household
Personal Information

Name and Surname
Identity Number
Age
Whether employed
Type of employment
Marital Status

APPROACH

Cybertracker Software was used to create a sequence of screens on the Palm Pilot which could be used to collect the above mentioned information.

TESTING USABILITY OF PALM PILOT

Three volunteers were taken from the community and trained to use the field computer. Each screen was explained as well as the procedure for operating the Palm Pilot. They were given a set of data to input on the field computer as a test run.

As there was only one Palm Pilot, each volunteer had a turn to go into the community and collect a set of data.

Later, each volunteer was interviewed individually to determine if they had experienced any problems while using the field computer and what their general impressions were.

POST DATA COLLECTION

When all the data had been collected the Palm Pilot was connected to a Desktop computer and the data downloaded. The data was exported to an Excel spreadsheet. Minor changes were made to the format of the information. The information was then sent to the Surplus Peoples` Project.