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Pact MERL webinar series Use of Mobenzi Researcher in the 2012 MERL Communities of Practice. Lessons from Tanzania and Namibia Experiences September 19 , 2012 Jacqueline Ndirangu – Pact Namibia Daisy Kisyombe – Pact Tanzania. What is Mobenzi Researcher?.
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Pact MERL webinar seriesUse of Mobenzi Researcher in the 2012 MERL Communities of Practice Lessons from Tanzania and Namibia Experiences September 19, 2012 Jacqueline Ndirangu – Pact Namibia Daisy Kisyombe – Pact Tanzania
What is Mobenzi Researcher? • A technology that allows you to collect data using a mobile phone. • Data is uploaded and transmitted to a central server using internet connection. • Data from the server can easily be exported to excel and SPSS for analysis
Process of setting up Mobenzi Researcher? • Procured handsets that are compatible with the Mobenzi Researcher technology and set them up with the Mobenzi Researcher software • Developed the questionnaire as usual (in MS Word) and emailed the same to Mobenzi support personnel to set up for use on the handsets • Surveys were set up online with technical support from the Mobenzi team • Mobenzi support team can help to register each of the mobile phones and issued log in and password information for individuals authorized to view/work with the data online. • In case you use local language; Mobenzi team sends English questionnaires in Excel for translation and then set up online
Data collection with Mobenzi Researcher • For optimum results; a central controller is needed with reliable internet access to monitor data entry and alert on issues emerging as data comes in • Once questionnaire is downloaded on the phone; data can be collected offline and stored on the phone till when phone is on network coverage area • Data stored on the phone automatically uploads into Mobenzi once network is recovered • Be sure to give each field worker a phone that is specifically assigned to him/her (no mixing up)
Advantages and disadvantages of Mobenzi vs. paper based surveys
Data quality and security assurance • Built in quality checks ensuring no incomplete submissions • Data in server can only be viewed/edited by Pact authorized personnel • All edits are recorded including person who did the editand when. Original data submission is not lost in case you need to reverse the action • Data entered via phone once submitted cannot be viewed from the phone • Data in server is encrypted and password protected
What worked well? • Easy to set up the phones with the Mobenzi Researcher software • Assigning of phones and codes to each of the data collectors • Easy to update the survey when changes were made after the pilot test • Data collection was standardized and systematic for all data collectors • Data export from Mobenziserver in Excel to SPSS for analysis
What did not work so well? • Limited time available to train data collectors and allow time to familiarize with using the technology. • Handsets were not GPS enabled • Collection of the ‘Other’ data. Typing of text was time taking, hence resorted to recording and transcribing responses to ‘Other’ questions. • Battery life for some type of phone not able to sustain long hours of data entry
Way Forward • Future evaluations e.g. upcoming Tanzania baseline in program expansion area/ mid term evaluation • Global indicators data entry • WORTH data collection