DATA COLLECTION & MANAGEMENT
Data Collection Services
CSK is your trusted partner for data collection services. We have vast experience in implementing field activities using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. We have experience working in different contexts, including households, hospitals, schools as well as conducting interviews among senior officials of the Tanzanian government, NGOs, and Donors for health care services in Tanzania.
CSK has experience managing large field teams and working concurrently in different geographical areas. To-date CSK has implemented data collection activities in almost all regions of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. Our two largest quantitative surveys are: 1) a survey among 8,909 households in 2019 (Client: Elizabeth Glassier Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and 2) a survey of 14,600 Households, also in 2019 (Client: Mahidol – Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit). Our largest qualitative studies are: 1) 161 Interviews (145 IDIs/KIIs & 16 FGDs) under Palladium International (2018) and 2) 142 interviews (49 IDIs/KIIs & 93 FGDs) under Population Council (2016/17).
CSK has a strong reputation in collecting high-quality data and meeting clients’ deadlines. We achieve this by; 1) utilizing highly qualified and committed data collectors and field supervisors, 2) investing in thorough training of our field teams, 3) having good data quality monitoring and assurance systems, and 4) doing thorough preparations of the study sites before initiating field activities. We also ensure that all members of our field teams are always comfortable by taking good care of their various needs in a timely fashion, which facilitates them to only focus on collecting high-quality data for our clients.
For all quantitative surveys, we give our clients access to our online database where they can visualize their study data in real-time as it is being collected. They can also download data at any time and run preliminary analyses. The latter also allows our clients to monitor the quality of their data as it is being collected.
For qualitative data collection activities, we ensure that the first few transcripts reach our clients within 24-48 hrs so that they can give their feedback regarding the quality of the interviews.
Below are a few examples of data collection activities that CSK has supported to-date: -
Data Management Services
Along with data collection services, CSK also offers data management support, including 1) transcription and translation of qualitative data materials, 2) entry and/or cleaning of quantitative data materials, 3) coding and analysis of qualitative data, and 4) analysis of quantitative data. We have staff who are well-trained and mentored in managing both qualitative and quantitative data as well as quality assurance systems that ensure that our clients receive high-quality data.
Quantitative Data Management
CSK uses SPSS software for quantitative data analysis; however, we have supported data management using other data management software such as Stata based on our client preferences.
Depending on our clients’ preferences, we can share final quantitative datasets in any format (SPSS, Stata, excel etc.) along with the data dictionary.
Qualitative Data Management
CSK uses Atlas ti for coding and analyzing qualitative data materials, however, we have supported qualitative data management activities using other data management software such as MAXQDA secondary to our client’s preferences.
When CSK supports coding and analysis of qualitative data materials, we also share analysis outputs under all codes in the codebook from the query tool. For activities that CSK has produced qualitative reports, the latter has facilitated our clients to double-check what is coming out of the qualitative interviews under various codes vs. what is written in the report without having to run the queries themselves.
CSK has a good reputation in producing exceptionally high-quality qualitative transcripts and coded data materials.
Our transcription procedures for qualitative interviews involve several stages described below to ensure the high quality of final transcripts:
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Our transcribers undergo additional training specific to every activity. The study-specific training is aimed at ensuring that the transcribers/translators have a good understanding of the aims and objectives of the study as well as the questions asked, and terminologies used.
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The key terms used under each study and their correct translations are discussed among the team members to maximize consistency during transcriptions/translations.
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Transcripts submitted by transcribers are reviewed by members of the transcription team who are trained as reviewers. These verify all the transcripts against their corresponding audios to ensure that the transcriptions and translations are accurate. Transcriptions not meeting minimal quality standards are returned to transcribers and contracts of transcribers who repeatedly submit transcripts that do not meet CSK’s minimal quality standards are terminated.
Our Qualitative data coding procedures involve the following steps:
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The coding process begins by developing a preliminary codebook that comprises pre-set codes mainly derived from questions in the data collection tools as well as one or two transcripts coded manually. The preliminary codebook is shared with the client for their inputs.
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Upon receiving and incorporating the client’s feedback, the preliminary codebook is then piloted on a few transcripts under each respondent category i.e. for each respondent category, coders code a similar transcript and compare the assigned codes under similar text segments.
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Above is followed by resolving any disagreements, refining or merging the preset codes, and/or proposing new codes. This process is repeated with different transcripts under the same respondent category until when there are minimal or no disagreements in the application of codes among all coders, at which stage the codebook is deemed ready for use to code transcripts under the corresponding respondent category.
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The codebook is piloted for each new respondent category to ensure that the existing codes also work for the new respondent category and where discrepancies are noted, appropriate adjustments are made to the codebook prior to using it for the new respondent category.