On Tuesday, 25 January 2011 we will be deploying a major update to the Analytics section. The Analytics section provides access to raw data, reports and export functionality for all your data collected using Mobile Researcher.

A common and powerful feature used by survey designers is the ability to make a section repeat based on the value of a numeric field captured in the survey. For example, imagine your survey collects biographical information about the members of a household. Using this functionality, you can prompt a fieldworker to record the number of household members, then configure the survey to iterate through each person in turn and capture their information. The mobile application automatically repeats the relevant questions based on the number of household members entered.

As useful as this feature is, one challenge is how to analyse this data once captured (because the questions are generated dynamically). Currently, each iteration is displayed as a separate column which means that if you have a section with 5 questions which repeats 10 times, 50 columns would be generated. Although you can still analyse the data in this format, we received numerous requests for the repeats to be displayed as rows rather than as columns. Once this deployment goes live on Tuesday, repeated sections will be shown in rows which should make analysis much simpler.

Instead of the entire survey being displayed in one grid, we will now display each section separately allowing you to move from one section to the next easily.

We’ll also be releasing some upgrades to the filtering abilities, now allowing you to filter by multiple fieldworkers and languages. When generating export files, you will now be able to select from 3 options outlined below:

• Comma Separated Variables (CSV): Each section of the survey is a separate file. Files are Zipped into a single folder for download.
• Microsoft Excel 2007 (or later): One worksheet is created for each section of the survey.
• Microsoft Excel 2003: One worksheet is created for each section of the survey. To compensate for a limitation in Microsoft Excel ® 2003 and earlier, response data with more than 256 fields will be split up into separate sheets.

In addition to exporting raw data in the traditional column/row format, we’ll now also export in a format which is ready to be used for the generation of pivot tables. We’ve also reformatted the way in which we export survey metadata such as question names and option labels to make importing this information into a statistics package much simpler.

Another important change is how you edit responses (if you have permission to do so, of course). Instead of making changes in the grid which was a little confusing, we’ve refactored this process and you now edit submissions individually.

Finally, you can also now perform bulk deletes (with necessary permissions) – very useful for clearing out test or training data.

What this means for organisations who have staff with SIM cards (prepaid or contract) and whether or not they use Mobile Researcher, is that these SIMs will need to be registered. Each organisation essentially has two options:

1. Request each fieldworker to complete the registration process. They will need to provide their ID book and proof of residence.
2. Nominate a representative who will register the SIM cards on behalf of the organisation.

Option 2 is the preferred option if the SIMs are owned by the organisation and, should the fieldworker leave the project or organisation, the SIM card will be reissued to another staff member. If option 1 is used in this case, the transfer of ownership would need to be recorded and the RICA process repeated for the new “owner”.

The actual RICA process itself is carried out by the relevant network operator by so-called “RICA officers”. These are generally any of the dealers, service centres or retailers where you would normally purchase SIM cards and/or airtime.

Should you procure handsets and/or SIM cards from us, we will be able to assist you in the RICA process.

Process for MTN prepaid SIMs

MTN allow you to pre-record the details of all the SIMs you wish to register, as well as either the fieldworker’s details (if selecting option 1 above) or the organisation representative’s details (option 2). You can also bulk upload all the mobile numbers you wish to register.

Once the necessary information has been submitted within 7 days, the fieldworker or representative will need to take their ID and proof of residential address to any MTN Dealer or Service Centre.

Process for Vodacom prepaid SIMs

Vodacom customers will need to register at Vodacom’s regional Walk-In Customer Care Centres and selected Vodashops, 4 U stores and other Vodacom outlets.

The presentation will highlight the methodologies, strategies and technologies utilised in the design of the Good Start Management Console (GSMC). The GSMC is a web-based system which was built to leverage the Mobile Researcher Application Programming Interface (API) to allow the activities involved in a large-scale randomised control trial to be closely managed and monitored. Community Health Workers (CHWs) make use of low end mobile phones and complete simple surveys which are fed back directly to the GSMC.

Mark will be presenting the paper as I will be overseas, so if you’re in Johannesburg during those dates and are interested in health informatics, be sure to register – the conference is sure to have a number of insightful speakers and perspectives.

If you’d like to learn more about the GSMC, the case study is a good place to start.

Survey duplication gives designers the ability to copy an existing survey with a single click which can potentially save hours of work. Read more about the new feature here.

An update to our billing model makes using Mobile Researcher even more affordable. Blank responses and instructions will no longer be billed for. Read more about the change to the billing model here.