Appendix 2.

Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of electronic surveys as perceived or observed by interviewers and respondents in RDSS.

Interviewer’s perception (author’s opinion in brackets)		Respondent’s perception (author’s opinion in brackets)
Advantage	Disadvantage	Advantage	Disadvantage
Time saving as sessions were shorter, and questions were straightforward (this is likely to mitigate interview fatigue in respondents as well as interviewers)	Device would stop functioning before session came to an end (unexciting, tiresome, and could ruin credibility of the DSS process); in the long run, this could lessen the eagerness of the community to participate	Time saving, as sessions were shorter, and questions were straightforward	Device would stop functioning before the session came to an end
New experience in which we had to record all survey data on a survey tool right on the spot. On traditional paper-based surveys, we were used to recording some of the responses on a separate sheet and transferring them onto a survey tool later when we returned home. This was mainly true in the case of a large number of members and events in a particular household. (With the new practice, it is likely to mitigate the original twofold window for data-transcription errors, which is the case on traditional paper-based surveys.) Transcription errors were likely to happen at the time of the interview and then while transferring of data from original sheet to an actual survey tool.
Automatic retrieval of respondent’s particulars and for all other members of the HH. On traditional paper-based surveys, the interviewers had to re-write the particulars of household members on fresh event forms. (In the long run for the whole survey as well as at the level of one household, this might lead to time-savings for other tasks.)		Automatic retrieval of respondent’s particulars and for all other members of the HH. On traditional paper-based surveys, the interviewers had to re-write the particulars of household members on fresh event forms.
More exciting, interesting, prestigious and convenient to carry and use to carry. (Excitement and prestige are likely to improve motivation of interviewers.) However this could only be at first experience and therefore short-lived. Convenience for carrying and use would reduce logistics fatigue and create more time for interviewers on issues related to quality of data rather than logistics.		Interesting to see our information entered into a computer right in front of us. (Excitement by respondents is likely to reduce interview fatigue.)
Presence and efficiency of skip function would ultimately improve sense of data quality among interviewers.