Face-to-face interviewing is a complex process comprising interviewers, mobile devices and software. A multitude of elements within this process can make a project prone to mistakes, leading to a delay in the delivery or even data loss. Outlined below are our essential tips for some of the most common problems associated with face-to-face interviewing to help you ensure a smooth execution of all CAPI projects.
1. Select the right device
The Nfield CAPI app runs on all Android tablets and smartphones, though not every device will serve you accordingly. We recommend that you run through a checklist mapping the factors that come into play when selecting the right CAPI device.
2. Embrace the issue of security
Security of your data is an absolute priority to us. Rest assured that we do our utmost to keep your data safe, however you also have a crucial role to play in data security by following a few simple rules:
- Ensure that you can wipe a device remotely in the event that it gets stolen. If this is not a feature on the device itself, please consider acquiring such a service. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software will help you configure, manage and secure mobile devices. Never heard before? Please see http://www.air-watch.com.
- Create logins per interviewer; never set up logins per device. Nfield CAPI enables you to track activities taken by the interviewers through their unique user ID.
- Set strong password requirements in Nfield CAPI, and ask your interviewers to keep their logins confidential or even to change the password regularly. The downside is that the more complex password, the bigger chance the interviewers will eventually jot it down on a piece of paper.
- Apply a user role configuration that defines a scale of activities the user is allowed to perform in Nfield CAPI. When somebody leaves the company, don’t forget to remove them from Nfield CAPI immediately.
- Once the quota of interviews for your project is reached and the fieldwork concludes, press the STOP button on the Nfield CAPI interface to automatically remove the survey from all devices the next time interviewers sync.
- Un-assign interviewers who no longer work on the project.
3. Prevent possible trouble in your fieldwork…
… by informing your interviewers thoroughly about how to use the Nfield app.
- Always log out of the app at the end of the day – never remain signed in the Nfield CAPI app.
- Sync regularly so that you work with the latest version of the survey and its information. Please bear in mind that transferring large volumes of data after various days of work may take you plenty of time.
- Ensure your internet connection is stable when you start syncing the data, and do not change your network connection as this can disrupt the data transfer.
- Activate the GPS on your mobile device if you receive a notification through the Nfield CAPI app.
- If you are assigned to a project which includes addresses and you share the device with more interviewers, don’t leave unfinished interviews in the Nfield CAPI app. When the next interviewer logs in and syncs his data on the device, your unfinished interviews will be removed.
- Use the device’s energy source wisely as you will be using it throughout the day to complete all interviews. Please see the recommendations how to prolong battery life.
4. Monitor updates
There are two types of software updates that you need to be aware of:
- Nfield CAPI app updates
- Android operating system updates
Nfield CAPI app updates (NIPO)
The Nfield CAPI app is managed by NIPO, and any updates are designed solely to augment the features of the app. Every release automatically updates the backend of Nfield CAPI but requires the manual intervention of the interviewer to take effect on the device.
IMPORTANT
Please ensure your interviewers allow automatic updates of the Nfield CAPI app so that they are working with the latest version which supports data security and provides the most-up-to-date features to them. To allow automatic updates, ask your interviewers to open the Play Store app and set the Nfield CAPI app setting to “Allow automatic updating.” Our Support Team will always send you detailed information via email about any app updates the day before the new version is released, so please do look out for these.
Android operating system updates (Google)
All Android operating system updates are managed by a third party – Google. These updates impact the software that the whole device runs on; they are not primarily calibrated to Nfield CAPI functionality.
The Android operating system update usually starts by a window which automatically opens on the screen asking for permission to update the operating system. The interviewer will need to consent to this before any updates can take place. In other words, the update doesn’t happen automatically.
Whilst we thoroughly test all major updates of the Android operating system to examine whether Nfield CAPI features have not been affected, due to the diversity of mobile devices available and the number of versions of the Android operating being used at any one time, it makes in-depth testing on a large scale impossible.
IMPORTANT
Only update the operating system on a few devices first to ensure everything still works as it should before you push out an extensive update across all of your devices. Inform your interviewers that they shouldn’t update the device without your consent to prevent unwelcome disruptions of the fieldwork. By acquiring the aforementioned Mobil Device Management (MDM) service, you can even manage and schedule software updates for all devices yourself. And most importantly, our Support Team is always on hand to help you.
5. Consider training options
Experienced researchers and fieldwork executives dive into Nfield CAPI without any hurdles. The same applies to scripters who are already familiar with the ODIN language. For those users who require full scale onboarding, we offer introductory and tailored training.
