Capabilities of data entry programs

[Richard Ristow]

I've got somebody looking for the following capabilities:

>* Allow participants to sit at a computer and complete questionnaires
>on the computer
>* Score results immediately and generate a report including a
>graphical representation of their scores, as well as a textual account
>of the scores
>* Be modifiable in case questionnaires are added or dropped
>* If possible, allow the computer to use audio clips to read questions
>to participants who cannot read or see the computer screen
>
>Number 4 is not necessary, and he's only interested if it wouldn't
>break the bank.  Numbers 1-3 are critical.

The most useful source I've found, looking back on the list, is a
thread "Data entry", begun Thu, 19 Apr 2007 <15:01:29 -0500>.
Participants on that thread mentioned SPSS Data Entry, cspro, EpiData,
Excel, Access, and Visual FoxPro. I'll have to investigate some myself,
but does anyone have  comments about the suitability of these programs,
or any others, for meeting the above requirements?

-With many thanks,
  Richard

Comments from the thread:

* SPSS Data Entry, "certainly not free, [but with] important features
for collecting error-free data". (It may be the most expensive option,
and one respondent had found it "very slow".)

* Excel; most people have it, and it lets you compare two independently
entered copies of the data. (But I suspect that most can do that.)

* "cspro, available free in:
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/cspro/index.html . It is a very versatile
and flexible program."

* EpiData. www.epidata.dk

* Access, as very powerful for this purpose. (I suspect it's one of the
harder to use, as well.)

* Visual FoxPro, "If you are working with big databases and need to
validate information on many tables as well as the logic between them".
(This looks like it may be more than I will need.)

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[ViAnn Beadle]

If the computers have access to the internet, there are a number of
providers of web-based surveying. Unless you are seriously into survey
administration, these services probably are the cheapest route to take.

I'm not sure what capability three means: questionnaires usually are
independent of each other if you're talking about a survey instrument; if
you're talking about a specific respondent's questionnaire, they ARE
independent of other respondents' questionnaires.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Richard Ristow
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:32 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Capabilities of data entry programs

I've got somebody looking for the following capabilities:

>* Allow participants to sit at a computer and complete questionnaires
>on the computer
>* Score results immediately and generate a report including a
>graphical representation of their scores, as well as a textual account
>of the scores
>* Be modifiable in case questionnaires are added or dropped
>* If possible, allow the computer to use audio clips to read questions
>to participants who cannot read or see the computer screen
>
>Number 4 is not necessary, and he's only interested if it wouldn't
>break the bank.  Numbers 1-3 are critical.

The most useful source I've found, looking back on the list, is a
thread "Data entry", begun Thu, 19 Apr 2007 <15:01:29 -0500>.
Participants on that thread mentioned SPSS Data Entry, cspro, EpiData,
Excel, Access, and Visual FoxPro. I'll have to investigate some myself,
but does anyone have  comments about the suitability of these programs,
or any others, for meeting the above requirements?

-With many thanks,
  Richard

Comments from the thread:

* SPSS Data Entry, "certainly not free, [but with] important features
for collecting error-free data". (It may be the most expensive option,
and one respondent had found it "very slow".)

* Excel; most people have it, and it lets you compare two independently
entered copies of the data. (But I suspect that most can do that.)

* "cspro, available free in:
http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/cspro/index.html . It is a very versatile
and flexible program."

* EpiData. www.epidata.dk

* Access, as very powerful for this purpose. (I suspect it's one of the
harder to use, as well.)

* Visual FoxPro, "If you are working with big databases and need to
validate information on many tables as well as the logic between them".
(This looks like it may be more than I will need.)

=====================
To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD

=====================
To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD