How do you manage the costs and logistics of mixed mode data collection projects?

1 Define your objectives and budget

Before you decide on the mix of modes, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your data collection project and how much you can afford to spend. Your objectives and budget will determine the feasibility and suitability of different modes, as well as the trade-offs and compromises you may have to make. For example, if you want to reach a large and diverse sample, you may need to use multiple modes to increase coverage and accessibility, but this will also increase your costs and complexity. If you have a limited budget, you may need to prioritize the most essential modes and reduce the length or frequency of your data collection.

2 Choose your modes and design your questionnaire

Once you have defined your objectives and budget, you can choose the modes that best fit your needs and preferences. You should consider factors such as the availability and reliability of the modes, the characteristics and preferences of your target population, the type and complexity of the questions, and the quality and comparability of the data. You should also design your questionnaire in a way that is consistent and compatible across the modes, avoiding mode-specific biases or errors. For example, you should use simple and clear language, avoid visual or auditory aids that may not be available or effective in some modes, and ensure that the response options and scales are equivalent and understandable in all modes.

3 Coordinate your modes and monitor your progress

After you have chosen your modes and designed your questionnaire, you need to coordinate your modes and monitor your progress. You should plan and schedule your data collection activities in a way that maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of each mode, as well as the synergy and complementarity of the modes. For example, you may want to start with a cheaper and faster mode, such as online surveys, to reach a large number of respondents, and then follow up with a more expensive and slower mode, such as phone interviews, to reach non-respondents or obtain more detailed information. You should also track and evaluate your data collection process and outcomes, such as response rates, completion rates, data quality, and costs, and make adjustments as needed.

4 Manage your data and analyze your results

Finally, you need to manage your data and analyze your results. You should ensure that your data are stored, cleaned, and integrated in a secure and consistent way, using appropriate software and tools. You should also apply appropriate methods and techniques to analyze your data, taking into account the potential effects of the modes on the data quality and comparability. For example, you may need to weight or adjust your data to account for different sampling or response probabilities across the modes, or use multivariate or mixed methods analysis to explore the interactions or differences between the modes.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?