Use of Mobile Technology for Data

Collection in Zimbabwe

Experiences Gained and Lessons LearntBy

Rodgers M. SangoZimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT)Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 13 to 16 October 2015.

Experiences Gained• TRI not properly scrutinised prior to

recommendation•But NSO currently working alone.•Current Status: Used PDAs for ZDHS data collection•Had initially identified local leaders’ secretaries as

enumerators since all of them are literate, at least secondary level of education.•But stopped before training them. No experience

gained.

Experiences Gained• Existing Enumerators are collecting CPS data using

tablets.• The current setup is made up of NSO staff only. Work is

going on well.•Procurement: Hand held computers procured hurriedly

to keep up with the project implementation time table. Limited choices explored.

Experiences Gained•Using existing indicators which were incorporated into

the newly developed system .•Prepared a user manual training.•Currently preparing a technical manual.•Data being sent to the server from the field.•Data being collected includes geographical coordinates.• ZDHS data collection system is sending data to a cloud

server, from the field.

Experiences Gained•CSPro Android training: Zimbabwe was represented by

two persons.• Lessons learnt were and are still being implemented.• ZDHS data tablets use Windows operating system.•Data collection is going on well, though sending to

server always require the availability of connectivity. Sometimes enumerators have to wait for connectivity.•Acceptability by respondents is a challenge

sometimes.

Lessons Learnt•Capacity Building• Speed of Data Collection•Cost Reduction•Data Cleaning•Geographical Location• System Update•Power Supply• Training of Enumerators•Population Census Undertaking

Capacity Building•Develop CAPI data entry systems•Configure Tablets to communicate with server•Configure server to receive data• Incorporate consistency checks to fix errors during data

collection•Ability to capture geographical coordinates of data

collection site•Ready to apply the experience to the population census

Speed up processes

• System sends data to server•Checks errors during data collection• Eliminates data entry phase, there by reducing time• Eliminates questionnaire despatch and recovery time• Fast access to electronic records as compared to paper•Processing can be done cumulatively, there by making

results available soon after data collection.

Cost Reduction

Although original cost is high;Cost of despatching and recovering questionnaires is eliminatedCost of editing is reducedCost of data entry eliminatedNever run out of questionnaires

Cost Reduction (continued)

Cost of paper for questionnaires is removedCost of printing questionnaires is removedSystem updates are distributed simultaneously electronically.Cost of labour force is reduced.Cost of storing questionnaires before and after data collection.

Data Cleaning

•Consistency checks are incorporated into the data capture system hence errors are checked on site during interviews• Little editing by supervisors or none at all. This

renders some supervisors redundant.

Geo-Coding

•Geographical coordinates are picked up by the tablet and deposited into the respective field.•No need for using a separate GPS where the

coordinates are written on the questionnaire only to be entered into the computer. Transcription errors minimised.

System Updating

• System maintenance is done centrally by the system developers• The modified system is installed on the server•Message is sent to the data collectors to download

an update.•Update is done simultaneously at no cost

Power Supply

•Normal household electricity supply• Solar chargers•Power banks•Car chargers•A combination of any of the above•Depended much on urban/rural

Enumerator Training• Some people are using smartphones•Others are using bank Automated Teller Machines

(ATM)•No body has ever gone to a training workshop on how

to use either smartphones or ATMs• This made training on how to use tablets for data

collection easy.

Enumerator Training (continued)• Training on protection against physical damage or

viruses was also easy.• Easier than paper questionnaire; skips are automatic

and errors are flagged for correction on site.• Language of interview changed as and when required.

Population Census Undertaking

•After this project;•We are now confident to use the technology on any

data collection undertaking.• Including the population census

Thank You