Mobile Data Collection

Intro to Open Data Kit (ODK) and formub

Open Data Kit (ODK) is a set of free and open-source tools to help you use mobile data collection solutions.

"timely and accurate data is the single greatest component of making socially impactful decisions"

"making data collection simple — allowing more time for harder tasks like how to make an impact with the information"

what is formhub

• tool for making data collection simple
• built by the Modi Research Group at Columbia University
• freely available under an opensource license

1. DESIGN the survey

XLSForms

• created in Excel
• easy collaborative authoring
• enables large, complex, multi-lingual surveys
• lots of community support online

2. COLLECT the data

with computer

& web form

with android device

& ODK Collect

3. ANALYZE the data

Why use formhub?

FASTER

• surveying and encoding combined into one step
• data can be analyzed as it is being collected

More ACCURATE

• skip logic to guide the data gatherer
• constraint checks to ensure data is entered properly
• no encoding step means no transcription errors

More INFORMATIVE

• collect data at the source
• accurate timestamps
• GPS coordinates
• photos
• etc.

Structured Data = Unlocked Data

Excel is a powerful tool

Create online tools to analyze (good) data