Self-service data collection with the most vulnerable

This is a summary of a Lightning Talk presented by Salla Mankinen, Good Return, at MERL Tech London in 2017. 

When collecting data from the most vulnerable target groups, organizations often use methods such as guesstimating, interviewing done by enumerators, SMS, or IVR. The organization Good Return created a smart phone and tablet app that allowed vulnerable groups to interact directly with the data collection tool, without training or previous exposure to any technology.

At MERL Tech London in February 2017, Salla Mankinen shared Good Return’s experiences with using tablets for self-service check in at village training centers in Cambodia.

“Our challenge was whether we could have app-based, self-service data collection for the most vulnerable and in the most remote locations,” she said. “And could there be a journey from technology illiteracy to technology confidence” in the process?

The team created a voice and image based application that worked even for those who had little technology knowledge. It collected data from village participants such as “Why did you miss the last training session?” or “Do you have any money left this week?”

By the end of the exercise, 72% of participants felt confident with the app and 83% said they felt a lot more confident with technology in general.

Watch Salla’s presentation here or take a look at her slides here!

Register now for MERL Tech London, March 19-20, 2018!