Data Collection : Guidelines

If you follow these guidelines then you should be able to design much better data capture forms :

1. Titles and clipart should be used to make it obvious what the purpose of the form is.

2. Language should be kept simple to avoid the possibility of confusion.

3. Clear instructions about what data is required and how it should be written down should be provided.

4. An appropriate amount of space should be left for the person completing the form to write the required details in.

5. Instructions should tell the person completing the form what to do with the form when it is completed.

6. Input boxes should be drawn on the form. The peson completing the form will be forced to write one letter in each box. This should make the form easier to read and ensure that the person completing the form does not write down more data than can be stored on the computer.

7. All questions should be relevant.

8. Tick boxes should be used where possible. These speed up input and ensure that the person completing the form can only choose a valid option.

9. A section should be added to the form so that the organisation that is collecting the form can keep track of what has been done with the information on it.

10. If appropriate, questions should be designed in such a way as to enable input into an information system to be carried out using a direct data entry device.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004