Explorer level
Collecting data using online forms and tools
In order to come up with a good survey you need to define it correctly.
Important is to answer therefore these questions
-
- Who is the intended audience of the survey?
- What type of information will be collected in the survey?
- How will I control the validity, accuracy, quality …?
- How will the data be processed?
Here are some rules – according to Survey Monkey – for creating an effective survey
- Define a clear, attainable goal for your survey.
The goal must be precise, specific
- Keep the more personal questions to the end.
It is better to keep personal information – like age, education … – at the end
- Don’t let your survey get too long.
Long surveys tend to discourage people from the start. So keep it short. A nice trick is in some survey programs that provide a progress line (or %) so the respondent sees the end of it.
- Focus on using closed-ended questions.
A way to progress quicker in a survey and at the same time to make processing afterwards easier is to use more closed-ended questions, like Likert scale, multiple choice.
Keep open questions limited and perhaps more as a deeper explanation of a choice made in a closed question.
- Consider including a survey incentive.
If you have the possibility a small reward for those taking part at the survey is always nice.
- Don’t ask leading questions.
In other words, try not to put your own opinion into the question prompt, be as neutral as possible in your description of the question.
- Keep your answer choices balanced.
Certainly in closed questions you need to provide enough answers to be objective. In Likert scale it is always useful to have an even number of answers, this prevents people to as an easy solution to check the middle (average), also provide an option to choose ‘not applicable’ or ‘no opinion’.
- Absolutes can absolutely hurt the quality of your responses.
Don’t use absolute words like ‘every’, ‘always’ or ‘all’ in the question as this limits the answering objectivity of the respondent.
- Stay away from asking double-barreled questions.
Don’t ask two (different) things in the same question, better to break it up into 2 or more questions.
- Preview your survey before you send it.
Make sure you evaluate the survey in a test mode to prevent any mishaps
Activity
compose & write down the survey on paper
The content links to use of data in your school: you want to investigate in which courses/subjects what kind of open data is used, list up some examples, to what extent do pupils feel that enough use is made of it? And of course also some questions on the respondent & date and time of survey recording.
Expert level
Creating a survey with geolocation
Geodata, also known as geographic data or geospatial data, refers to data and information that has explicit or implicit association with a location relative to Earth. Geospatial data is used to visually depict and better understand the impact of human activity based on a specific geographic location.
The information on geolocation might bring new insights and provides with very useful information. While collecting the data based on geography, the researcher is able to understand if the results are specific to a certain region.
Trash (cans, plastic bottles, mouth masks …) along streets and rural biking and walking paths is in many countries a problem. Sometimes it is the attitude of the person, but sometimes it is also caused by lack of bins or other recycling places along streets and paths.
In this survey you will divide the work and each of your group members will survey some streets/paths.
In the survey you will indicate
- what kind of trash is recorded
- where there are bins or other recycling possibilities and if these are empty or bulging with trash
- what your general opinion/feeling is about the street/path you are surveying (really dramatic or reasonable – using a Likert scale)
But for this survey we need to indicate the exact location of the rubbish along the road/path. This is where geodata is used, meaning data with a geolocation attached to it. When collecting the data the respondent will or automatically add his/her location with the form, or will indicate on a map the exact location. As a result all data can be visualised on a map, offering the possibilities to make spatial analysis of the data.
The data can be visualised via a map where by clicking on the location you see the data of the survey were collected there.
Just as in 1.2.1 mentioned in order to come up with a good survey you need to define it correctly.
Important is to answer therefore these questions
-
- Who is the intended audience of the survey?
- What type of information will be collected in the survey?
- How will I control the validity, accuracy, quality …?
- How will the data be processed?
The same practical rules apply here. But as mentioned: you will also answer a question that points to the location where the survey is record is completed. Take the example of Survey123: one of the question types you have to add is ‘Map’, this allows to determine on the map your exact location – when using a smartphone it is done automatically when clicking on the symbol
For this kind of survey use one of these 2 tools:
- ArcGIS Survey123: Collect data via web or mobile devices, even when disconnected from the Internet. Analyze results quickly, and upload data securely for further analysis. You can use Survey123 as a stand-alone product, or combine it with other tools of ESRI (like ArcGIS Online & ArcGIS Storymaps) for even more analysing options.
- QField: this app allows you to efficiently collect data on the field, but you need to analyse the results inside QGIS.
Activity
Make the survey to measure waste along the street. You will need to create a survey with geolocation. This means that one of the questions in the survey asks (whether or not automatic) to indicate your location. The other questions can be similar to a ‘normal’ survey.
When it is finished share the link of the survey with your public so that data collection can begin. Don’t forget to give precise instructions on the final collection date.
TOOLS DATA & RESOURCES NEEDED
– Survey123 from ESRI (https://survey123.arcgis.com/) – you need an organisation account to create a survey, not to answer the survey. An introducing video can be found on https://youtu.be/fqw71JjhWMc
– QField of QGIS (https://qfield.org/) – to be installed on your Android smartphone
An introducing video can be found on https://youtu.be/fqYZlhZwXLo
TIME REQUIRED
- create the survey: 1 h
- collecting data on the field depends of the amount of streets and distance, but this will esily take 1 h.