Data collection forms can be created directly on the TolaData platform or integrated from other data collection tools directly to Track. Read more about how to do it in Import Datasets article on the Knowledge Base.
Select Form Library on the Navigation Bar and hit the orange + button.
Then Add Field to add questions to your form. You will be able to use validation rules or set up skip logic to make it easier for your enumerators to collect data and best ensure data quality.
Quick Tip: Remember! You won't be able to change a form that has been already used for data collection.
Choose from a wide range of available question types:
Quick Tip: Field name is how your data column header will be called in your data table in Track, while Field label is the question that anyone who will be collecting data with your form will see.
| Field type | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Number input |
| text | Free text response |
| Email input | |
| url | Webpage URL or link input |
| date | Date input |
| dropdown | Multiple choice question; multiple answers can be selected |
| cascading dropdown | Sequence of dependent multiple choice question; multiple answers can be selected for each |
TolaData will only allow for a specified data type (e.g. text, date or number) input in response to a question. Providing ready answers in a dropdown is a way to prevent typos, as only specified answer options will be available. Question type selector is an example of a dropdown menu. Cascading dropdowns are combined sets of dropdown menus, when specific options roll out based on previous answers. See an example below.
Edit your cascading dropdown question:
Oftentimes you might expect answers to be in a specific range, e.g. it is unusual to have 15 or more siblings and you might want to prevent such an input. To do that, define the accepted range while creating your form.
After you Publish the form and open a Webform you'll be notified every time you or your enumerators try to input a record out of the allowed range.
In complex forms, you might want to limit the number of displayed questions for clarity or show some questions only if your respondents have already answered in a certain way.
E.g. you'll only ask the respondent to share age of their siblings if they have confirmed having siblings in the first place.
If you're going to use a similar form repeatedly across programs or projects, you might consider building a template. Create it once and simply Clone, rename and reuse every time you need to.
