Professional Digital Data Collection

This manual provides end-to-end professional training in digital data collection for M&E practitioners, researchers, and field enumerators. It covers four major platforms: ODK, KoboToolbox, SurveyCTO, and Survey Solutions.

The manual is organized in four phases: foundations of survey methodology (including Total Survey Error), hands-on platform training with interface-level guidance, questionnaire design science (bias reduction, validation, piloting), and advanced systems architecture for quality management at scale.

Practical features include seven embedded tasks, worked XLSForm examples, platform-specific troubleshooting tables, a glossary of key terms, a quiz for instructors, a quick reference card for field use, and five Malawi-based case studies demonstrating real-world implementation. The manual is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 and is designed for self-study, classroom instruction, or field reference.