Best ODK workflow set-up

Support
1

Hi All,

I am new to ODK and have a few questions about how best to set up a survey.
Should I (a) use a new version of the same form at each new sampling
location or (b) use a single form for a day's work (with repeats).

This is my scenario:

We will be carrying out a subaqueous soil survey/sampling program in a
number of ponds. There will be approximately 20 sampling locations in each
pond. There will be data that is common to each sampling location within an
individual pond (e.g. water level, weather conditions). The sample
numbering protocol we will use will be:

Pond name-sample site number.soil horizon (e.g. XB1-01.1)

(a) Using a new version of the same form at each new sampling location:

For data that is common to each sample site, do we enter the information
for the first site in each pond, or do we need to fill it out in each form?
Would it work to have a question like: "is this your first sample location
in this pond (yes/no)?", Yes = fill out common data, No = skip these
questions.

I understand that data from a completed form cannot be used to populate
fields in successive forms? If so, what is the best way to ensure that a
field operative does not accidentally reuse a sample site location number
(can you grey out sample numbers from forms based on previous input)?

(b) A single form for a day's work (with repeats):

Instead, is it practicable to fill out a single form per pond that includes
all 20 sampling locations? Is there a danger that a form could be lost or
corrupted and we lose an entire day's work?

I hope this makes sense.

Cheers

Andrew

2

Hi Andrew,

I think you've laid out the options and the tradeoffs pretty well.

a. You can't prevent the collector from re-using an ID. Or rather, you
can, but it requires writing Java code.

b. Data loss from a bug is very unlikely. Disable delete in the admin
mode so collectors don't accidentally delete a form and you'll be
fine.

You can also try both and see which ones your collectors like and
which output CSV is the easiest to analyze.

Yaw

··· -- Need ODK services? http://nafundi.com provides form design, server setup, professional support, and software development for ODK.

On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 8:21 AM, Andrew akmbaker9@hotmail.com wrote:

Hi All,

I am new to ODK and have a few questions about how best to set up a survey.
Should I (a) use a new version of the same form at each new sampling
location or (b) use a single form for a day's work (with repeats).

This is my scenario:

We will be carrying out a subaqueous soil survey/sampling program in a
number of ponds. There will be approximately 20 sampling locations in each
pond. There will be data that is common to each sampling location within an
individual pond (e.g. water level, weather conditions). The sample numbering
protocol we will use will be:

Pond name-sample site number.soil horizon (e.g. XB1-01.1)

(a) Using a new version of the same form at each new sampling location:

For data that is common to each sample site, do we enter the information for
the first site in each pond, or do we need to fill it out in each form?
Would it work to have a question like: "is this your first sample location
in this pond (yes/no)?", Yes = fill out common data, No = skip these
questions.

I understand that data from a completed form cannot be used to populate
fields in successive forms? If so, what is the best way to ensure that a
field operative does not accidentally reuse a sample site location number
(can you grey out sample numbers from forms based on previous input)?

(b) A single form for a day's work (with repeats):

Instead, is it practicable to fill out a single form per pond that includes
all 20 sampling locations? Is there a danger that a form could be lost or
corrupted and we lose an entire day's work?

I hope this makes sense.

Cheers

Andrew

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3

Thanks Yaw,

Much appreciated.

Cheers

Andrew

··· On Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 10:51:34 AM UTC+9:30, Andrew wrote: > > Hi All, > > I am new to ODK and have a few questions about how best to set up a > survey. Should I (a) use a new version of the same form at each new > sampling location or (b) use a single form for a day's work (with repeats). > > This is my scenario: > > We will be carrying out a subaqueous soil survey/sampling program in a > number of ponds. There will be approximately 20 sampling locations in each > pond. There will be data that is common to each sampling location within an > individual pond (e.g. water level, weather conditions). The sample > numbering protocol we will use will be: > > Pond name-sample site number.soil horizon (e.g. XB1-01.1) > > *(a) Using a new version of the same form at each new sampling location:* > > For data that is common to each sample site, do we enter the information > for the first site in each pond, or do we need to fill it out in each form? > Would it work to have a question like: "is this your first sample location > in this pond (yes/no)?", Yes = fill out common data, No = skip these > questions. > > I understand that data from a completed form cannot be used to populate > fields in successive forms? If so, what is the best way to ensure that a > field operative does not accidentally reuse a sample site location number > (can you grey out sample numbers from forms based on previous input)? > > *(b) A single form for a day's work (with repeats):* > > Instead, is it practicable to fill out a single form per pond that > includes all 20 sampling locations? Is there a danger that a form could be > lost or corrupted and we lose an entire day's work? > > I hope this makes sense. > > Cheers > > Andrew > > > >