Data collection and management

In this module, participants will learn the essential skills for gathering and managing data in ways that preserve its accuracy, integrity, and usefulness. We will cover primary data collection through surveys, interviews, and observations, as well as sourcing secondary data from reports, databases, and public records. Participants will learn the principles of data quality — accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness — and how to apply these in practice. We will discuss best practices for file management, including clear naming conventions, folder organization, and secure backup systems. Participants will also learn to create and maintain a data dictionary, which serves as a roadmap for understanding and using a dataset effectively. Practical exercises will reinforce these skills, ensuring learners are confident in managing data from collection to storage.

Part II of the course is a hands-on introduction of participants to widely used tools such as Google Forms, Kobo Toolbox, ODK, and SurveyCTO. Learners will gain step-by-step experience in designing surveys, applying skip logic, deploying them to field data collectors, and exporting responses for analysis. The session will cover both online and offline survey options, ensuring that participants can collect high-quality data in any setting.