Related Experiment Videos
Computer administration of a school-based adolescent health survey
M E Hibbert1, C Hamill, M Rosier
1Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Notebook computers enhance large-scale health surveys by engaging adolescents and improving honest responses to sensitive questions. This technology offers efficient data collection and personalized question exposure for better survey outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Health Survey Methodology
- Adolescent Health Research
Background:
- Large-scale surveys are crucial for public health insights.
- Traditional survey methods can face challenges in data accuracy and participant engagement.
- Adolescent populations present unique considerations for survey design and data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of notebook computers for data collection in large-scale surveys.
- To assess the utility of computer-administered questionnaires in adolescent health research.
- To explore participant engagement and data honesty using digital survey tools.
Main Methods:
- A health survey was administered to adolescents (Years 7, 9, 11) using notebook computers in 1992.
- A multi-instrument questionnaire with complex branching logic was employed.
- Participants were recruited from private and government schools in both urban and rural Victoria.
Main Results:
- An 83% parental consent rate was achieved.
- Students completed the confidential questionnaire in an average of 68 minutes.
- Over 90% of students enjoyed using the computer, with honesty ratings increasing by grade level (68-85%).
Conclusions:
- Computer-administered surveys offer significant advantages for large-scale data collection.
- This technology allows for tailored question exposure, presenting only relevant items to participants.
- Notebook computers facilitate the asking of sensitive questions, potentially improving data quality in surveys.