Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones

The advent of cheap smartphones in rural areas across the globe presents an opportunity to change the mode with which researchers engage hard-to-reach populations. In particular, smartphones allow researchers to connect with respondents more frequently than standard household surveys, opening a new...

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Main Authors: Bell, Andrew R., Ward, Patrick S., Killilea, Mary E., Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Public Library of Science 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148192
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author Bell, Andrew R.
Ward, Patrick S.
Killilea, Mary E.
Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque
author_browse Bell, Andrew R.
Killilea, Mary E.
Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque
Ward, Patrick S.
author_facet Bell, Andrew R.
Ward, Patrick S.
Killilea, Mary E.
Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque
author_sort Bell, Andrew R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The advent of cheap smartphones in rural areas across the globe presents an opportunity to change the mode with which researchers engage hard-to-reach populations. In particular, smartphones allow researchers to connect with respondents more frequently than standard household surveys, opening a new window into important short-term variability in key measures of household and community wellbeing. In this paper, we present early results from a pilot study in rural Bangladesh using a ‘microtasks for micropayments’ model to collect a range of community and household living standards data using Android smartphones. We find that more frequent task repetition with shorter recall periods leads to more inclusive reporting, improved capture of intra-seasonal variability, and earlier signals of events such as illness. Payments in the form of mobile talk time and data provide a positive development externality in the form of expanded access to mobile internet and social networks. Taken to scale, programs such as this have potential to transform data collection in rural areas, providing near-real-time windows into the development of markets, the spread of illnesses, or the diffusion of ideas and innovations.
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spelling CGSpace1481922025-01-24T14:20:03Z Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones Bell, Andrew R. Ward, Patrick S. Killilea, Mary E. Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque floods surveys natural disasters households data collection capacity development information and communication technologies rural areas The advent of cheap smartphones in rural areas across the globe presents an opportunity to change the mode with which researchers engage hard-to-reach populations. In particular, smartphones allow researchers to connect with respondents more frequently than standard household surveys, opening a new window into important short-term variability in key measures of household and community wellbeing. In this paper, we present early results from a pilot study in rural Bangladesh using a ‘microtasks for micropayments’ model to collect a range of community and household living standards data using Android smartphones. We find that more frequent task repetition with shorter recall periods leads to more inclusive reporting, improved capture of intra-seasonal variability, and earlier signals of events such as illness. Payments in the form of mobile talk time and data provide a positive development externality in the form of expanded access to mobile internet and social networks. Taken to scale, programs such as this have potential to transform data collection in rural areas, providing near-real-time windows into the development of markets, the spread of illnesses, or the diffusion of ideas and innovations. 2016-11-14 2024-06-21T09:24:01Z 2024-06-21T09:24:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148192 en Open Access Public Library of Science Bell, Andrew R.; Ward, Patrick S.; Killilea, Mary E.; and Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque. 2016. Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0165924. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165924
spellingShingle floods
surveys
natural disasters
households
data collection
capacity development
information and communication technologies
rural areas
Bell, Andrew R.
Ward, Patrick S.
Killilea, Mary E.
Tamal, Md. Ehsanul Haque
Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title_full Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title_fullStr Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title_full_unstemmed Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title_short Real-time social data collection in rural Bangladesh via a ‘Microtasks for Micropayments’ platform on Android smartphones
title_sort real time social data collection in rural bangladesh via a microtasks for micropayments platform on android smartphones
topic floods
surveys
natural disasters
households
data collection
capacity development
information and communication technologies
rural areas
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148192
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