Tonje Switzer Project Practicum

THE DIGITIZED SURVEY PROJECT SPRING 2016

TONJE SWITZER 1

THEDIGITIZED

SURVEYPROJECT

Spring 2016

Tonje Switzer The Everett Program

University of California Santa Cruz


TONJE SWITZER 2

PARTI-BASICINFORMATIONPersonalinformationName:TonjeSwitzerCollegeAffiliation:OakesMajor:Sociology

ConcentrationinGlobalInformationandSocialEnterpriseStudies(GISES)GraduationDate:6/12/2016Non-UCSCemail:[email protected]:(831)419-9487PartnerInformationOrganizationName:EverettProgramWebsite:everettprogram.orgEmail:[email protected]:(831)459-1572SupervisororMainContactName:ChrisBennerEmail:[email protected]:(530)574-7585ProjectVitalsNameofproject:TheDigitizedSurveyProjectLocation:SantaCruz,CaliforniaDaterange:April-June2016Technologiesused:KoboToolboxProgramandApponSamsungGalaxyTabletsThemes:DigitalSurveying,CommunityBasedParticipatoryResearch,HousingCrisisProjectThemesCapacitybuildingTechLiteracy


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ProjectExecutiveSummary:Aswithallresearch,themethodsemployedfordatacollectionandinterpretationarecrucialinassuringthetimelinessbywhichthedatacollectedcanbepublished.“WorkingforDignity”,asurveyoflowincomelaborersinSantaCruzCountyexecutedduringthe2014-15academicyear,exemplifiesthebottleneckofinformationthattendtooccurwhenlargeamountsofdataaregatheredandprocessedmanuallywithouttheaidofdigitaltools.Theproject’suseofpapersurveysrequiredmanualdatainputtorendertheinformationcompatiblewithprogramsforstatisticalanalysis,whichsubstantiallysloweddowntheeffortofmakingthedataavailabletothepublicbythemeansofawebsite.Community-basedparticipatoryresearch(CBRP)hasbeeninstrumentalincreatingthebasisforpolicychangesinareaspertinenttolocalcommunitiesacrossabroadrangeofissues1ThisprojectwasaimedatprovidingundergraduatestudentsinvolvedinUC-initiatedCBRPprojectswiththeskillsneededtogatherdatathroughsurveyingusingtheopensourceappKoboCollectonSamsungGalaxytablets.

DuringtheWorkingforDignityproject,anotherCBRPprojectwasalreadyintheplanningstagesconcerningthehighcostofrentalpropertyandalackofdataonrenter’sconditionsinSantaCruzCounty.TheNoPlaceLikeHomeprojectwasplannedasalargescalesurveyprojectwithagoalof1300surveysscheduledtobeginduringspringquarterof2016,andassuchpresentedanexcellentopportunitytoimplementthisproject.Thisprojectwasimplementedoverathree-monthperiod,ApriltoJuneof2016.AsafellowoftheEverettProgramIhadanestablishedrelationshipwithmypartnerorganization.FurtherIhaddevelopedaworkingrelationshipwithprincipalinvestigatorsStevenMcKaythroughtheWorkingforDignityproject,andMiriamGreenbergthroughseveralquartersofcoursework.IhadalsogainedexperiencewithcomparableresearchmethodsthroughbeingenrolledinthecourseSociology176AWorkandSociety,throughwhichthelatterpartoftheWorkingforDignitysurveyingwascarriedout.IpreparedfortheprojectthroughresearchinghowtousetheKoboCollectformbuildertobuildasamplesurvey,deployit,andtestitontheSamsungtablets.Inaddition,courseworkspecificallyaddressingAmericanhousingpoliciesandlocalissuesrelatedtothehousingcrisispreparedmeforunderstandingthescopeandimportanceofmanyofthesurveyquestions.DuringtheimplementationofthisprojectIsuccessfullytaught40undergraduatestudentsinteamsoftwohowtousetheKoboCollectapponSamsungGalaxytabletsduring6weeksoffieldworkresultinginthecollectionof406surveysacrossthreeneighborhoodswithinthecityofSantaCruz.

1 Minkler,Meredith.n.d.“PromotingHealthyPublicPolicyThroughCommunity-BasedParticipatoryResearch:TenCaseStudies”policylink.org.RetrievedApril6,2015


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DescriptionoftheDigitizedSurveyProjectThisprojectcreatedtheknowledgebaseandcapabilityoftheEverettProgramtodigitizesurveyeffortsinpartnershipwithcommunityorganizationsandresearchcenters.Mainachievementsincludeproducingthedigitizedversionofa300questionsurvey,andtraining40undergraduatestudentsinconductingthesurveyontablets,resultinginthecollectionof406surveysoverasix-weekperiod.Inaddition,twoworkshopswereheldwhere12individuals,includingthechiefinvestigatoroftheresearchproject,andresearchspecialistoftheEverettProgram,wereintroducedtotheprocessofconvertingapapersurveytoadigitalformat.FundingReceivedThisprojectreceived$2000infundingfromtheEverettGrant,whichcoveredtheexpenseofpurchasing12GalaxySamsungTabletsandcarryingcasesforthetablets.Thepurchaseoftheremaining8tabletsandcaseswascoveredbytheUCSCCenterforLaborStudies,andcost$1100.

NumberofPeopleServedDirectly45total40studentsweretrainedtoconductsurveys.12(students,faculty,andstaff)weretrainedincreatingdigitizedsurveys.Thetotalnumberbeing45isduetosomeoverlapbetweenthetwogroups.ThisnumberisexpectedtoriseasnewstudentsenrollintwocoursesintheWinterandSpringquarterof2017.Presumably80morestudentswillbetrainedinusingtabletsduringthe“NoPlaceLikeHome”surveyproject.NumberofPeopleServedIndirectlyNumberofpeopleservedindirectly:406Racialcompositionofpeopleservedindirectly:

Latino/a:50.91%,White:32.95%,Asian/PacificIslander5.91%,AfricanAmerican2.5%,NativeAmerican1.82%,morethanone:1.36%,noanswer:4.54%

Thisnumberisexpectedtoriseasmoresurveysareconductedthroughoutthe2016/17academicyear.Thegoalis1300surveysbytheendoftheSpring2017.Inaddition,thepurposeoftheresearchistoinformpolicymakersaboutrenter’sconditionsinSantaCruztospurpolicychanges,thuscreatingthepotentialofwidespreadindirectimpact.


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PARTII–PROJECTNARRATIVESection1–ResearchandPreparation

DefiningTheIssue

WhiletheDigitizedSurveyProjectisaimedatfacilitatingtheinvolvementoftheEverett

Programandundergraduatestudentsincommunitybasedparticipatoryresearch(CBPR)

overall,thespecificsocialissuethatwasaddressedduringtheimplementationofthis

projectisthehousingcrisisandsubsequentlackofaccesstoaffordablehousinginSanta

CruzCounty.TheCBPRNoPlaceLikeHome:VoicesandVisionsoftheHousingCrisisisledby

principalinvestigators;directoroftheUCSCCenterforLaborStudies,ProfessorSteven

McKay;anddirectorofUCSCUrbanStudiesResearchCluster,ProfessorMiriamGreenberg.

IthasbeenconceivedofanddevelopedincollaborationwiththeCaliforniaRuralLegal

Assistance,CommunityActionBoardofSantaCruzCounty,ShelterProject,Community

Bridges,andNuevaVistaCommunityCenter.Thesecommunitypartnershavebeen

instrumentalintailoringthesurveyquestionstoourlocalconditionssothatthefindings

canbemostusefulintheircontinuedworkwithtenantsandpolicymakersinSantaCruz

County.

Iidentifiedtheneedforadigitizedsolutiontosurveyingthroughmyinvolvementinthe

ambitiousCBPReffort,WorkingforDignity:TheLowWageWorkerProject,thatwas

launchedasacollaborativeCBPRprojectbetweentheUCCenterforLaborStudiesand

CaliforniaRuralLawAssociation(CRLA).Duringthecourseof5quartersin2014and2015.

1,400papersurveyswerecollectedentirelybyundergraduatestudentsenrolledinoneof

twoclassestaughtbytheprincipalinvestigatorofthesurveyproject,ProfessorSteven

McKay.Theprocessofmanuallyenteringthedatafromthe1400papersurveytorenderit

compatiblewithdigitaldataanalysiswasdelegatedtotwoteamsofeightstudentsover

twoquarters.Factorssuchaspoorhandwritingandconfusionabouthowtorecord


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answersthatdidnotfollowtheintendedlogicofthequestionnaire,ledtoinstancesthaton

manyoccasionsdoubledtheestimated15-20minutepersurvey.

AsCBRPprojectssuchasWorkingforDignityarecommonlydependentonfundingfrom

donors,costeffectivenessandresponsiblebudgetingareissuesthatcannotbetaken

lightly.Thesoleactofprintingthesurveysonpaperamountedtoacostof$1,200,andin

theeventofasimilarprojectthatlackthesufficientnumberofstudentstofillthedata

entrypositionsforcoursecredits,suchworkwouldbepaidatarateofminimum$10/hour

andwouldaddasubstantialeconomicburdentotheprojectasanestimatesof15-20

minutespersurveyadsuptoanaverageof410hours’worthofdatacleaningandinput.

Thefollowingdelayinavailabilityofdataseverelysloweddowntheimportantaspectof

theCBRPprocessofmakingtheresearchfindingsavailabletothepublic.Asafellowofthe

EverettProgram,IwasinvolvedinthisprocessthroughthedevelopmentoftheWorking

forDignitywebsite2.Whilethewebdesignteamstartedworkingonthelayoutofthesite

duringthe2015winterquarter,nosubstantialamountofdatawasavailableuntilthe

beginningofspringquarter.Eventhen,approximatelyonefourthofthedatawasstillnot

cleanedandprocessed,causingaraceagainsttheclocktocompletethesitebeforethe

launchattheMuseumofArtandHistory(MAH)onMay7th20153.

Inadditiontotheexcessiveamountofdatacleaningandmanualentryneeded,theactual

timeusedtoconducteachsurveycanbeacompromisingfactorforaresearchprojectin

termsofsurveyfatigue.Towardsthemiddleandendofalengthysurvey,respondentstend

toanswerquestionsinmannersthatwillpresumablyshortentheoveralltime-spanofthe

questionnaire,heighteningtheriskofjeopardizingresultsthroughmissingorfaultydata4.

Whennavigatingcomplexmanualskip-logicpatternsonlongsurveys,abigpersonal

2http://workingfordignity.ucsc.edu/3https://web.archive.org/save/_embed/https://santacruzmah.org/event/community-rental-santa-cruz

low-wage-worker-study-website-launch-photo-exhibit-and-community-dialog/4 Backor,Kristen,SaarGolde,andNormanNie.2007.“EstimatingSurveyFatigueinTimeUseStudy.”1–59.


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responsibilityisthusplacedonthesurveyorintermsofmovingthroughthesurveyina

timelyfashionasafailuretodosomayleadtosurveyfatigueearlierinthesurvey.

Minimizingthisresponsibilityforundergraduatestudentsthatarerelatively

unexperiencedwithsurveyfieldworkcanhaveadramaticimpactbothonthenumberof

surveysthatcanbecollectedinafiniteamountoftime,andthequalityofthedata

gathered.

Inarecentstudycomparingface-to-facepapersurveysandtabletbasedsurveysthelatter

wasshowntoreducecostpersurveyby73%andtheamountoftimeusedpersurvey-

questionby46%.Eliminatingtheneedfordataentryandcleaning(e.g.hiredlabor)saved

bothexpensesandtime,whiletimewasadditionallyreducedbyshorteningthedurationof

theactualsurveythroughthebuiltinskiplogicfunctionofdigitizedsurveytools(Leisher:

267).Aseparatestudyevaluatingface-to-facesurveysofunderservedpopulationsinrural

UScommunitieswithlittlepreviousexposuretotabletcomputers,showedastrong

preferencefortablet-overpenandpapersurveys(Newell:112).

InorderforUCSCdepartmentstosuccessfullyandcontinuouslyengageinCBRPsthat

promoteandco-createactionforsocialjusticechange,anupgradeintheformof

digitizationwaswarranted,andhasofnowbeenimplementedthroughsupportingthe

digitizationofthesurveyinstrument,datacollection,processing,andanalysisfortheNo

PlaceLikeHomeresearchproject.Inaddition,thisprojecthasaddressedtheEverett

Program’sprofessedneedofnetworkingacrosstheUCSCcampusbycreatingan

opportunitythroughskillbuildingoftheEverettstudentbody,fellows,andstaff,enabling

theEverettProgramtoengageinandimplementprojectsthatinvolvedigitizedsurveying

inthefuture.

DevelopingthePartnership

AsafellowoftheEverettProgram,thoughtsofhowmyactionscouldcontributetoenrichingtheprogram’s

approachofusingtechnologyinthepursuitofpromotingsocialandenvironmentaljusticethrough


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amelioratingissueshadalreadybecomeafocalpointofmyacademiccareeratUCSC.Throughidentifying

theneedforadigitizedsurveymethodthroughmyinvolvementintheWorkingforDignityproject,I

conceptualizedhowthismightsimultaneouslybenefittheEverettProgram.Ienvisionedthatsuchbenefit

wouldderiveprimarilyfromCBPRprojects,butalsothroughtheavailabilityforstudentstoconduct

surveystoassesstheimpactoftheirsocialenterpriseprojects.ThroughconversationswithProfessorand

DirectoroftheEverettProgram,ChrisBenner,andTechnicalDirectoroftheEverettProgram,Thomas

Gelder,Iwasabletoconfirmtheneedandwillingnessoftheprogramtoadddigitalsurveyingtothehostof

technologiestheprogramengageswith.

PlanningtheProject

Theoverarchinggoalofthisprojectwastofacilitatedigitaldatacollectionincampus

sponsoredCBPRprojectsthatinvolveundergraduatestudentsandareconcernedwith

socialand/orenvironmentaljusticeissueswiththeaimoftransformingfindingsinto

actionthroughpolicychangesand/orotherprofessedandmeasurablemethods.

Directobjectivesincluded:

1. Toshortenthetimegapbetweendatacollectionanddataanalysisinsurveyprojects

throughtheuseofSamsungGalaxytabletsandtheopen-sourceprogramKobo

ToolboxandappKoBoCollect.

Thisobjectivewasdevelopedasadirectresultofthefrustratingexperiencethat

waitingforusabledataduringthebuildingoftheWorkingforDignitywebsite

provided.IstronglybelievethatCBPRprojectsthataimatspurringsocialchange

throughtheactionofcommunitymembers,policymakers,orstakeholdersin

general,aredependentonthetimelydeliveranceofdata,andIwantedtoapproach

thissolutionthroughthefollowingdeliverables:

o Becomingproficientintheuseofthetabletsandsoftware.


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o CreatingadigitizedsurveyincollaborationwithchiefinvestigatorsoftheNo

PlaceLikeHomeproject.

o Creatingacurriculumforteachingundergraduatestudentsinvolvedin

CBPRshowtousetheplatformandsoftware.

o Teachtheundergraduatestudentsenrolledin176ainthespringof2016

howto,confidently,accurately,andautonomously,conductfieldworkusing

thedigitizedNoPlaceLikeHomesurveyinstrument.

2. Tomaintainthesustainabilityofthisprojectbyincorporatingcurriculumthat

concernstheuseofthesurveytechnologythroughoneofthetechlabs.

ThisobjectivewasdevelopedthroughassessingtheneedsoftheEverettProgramin

termsofaddingtotherepertoireoftechnologiesthattheyteach.Know-howof

digitalsurveyingwouldenableEverettstudenttopartnerwithorganizationsin

needofdatacollection,andassuchpresumablyalsoenablepartnershipsbetween

theEverettProgramandnewpartnerorganizations.Planneddeliverablesincluded:

o CreatinganeasilyaccessiblecurriculumforteachingEverettstudentshowto

usetheplatformandsoftwareincludingbrainstormingactivitiesofhowthis

technologycouldenhancetheirindividualprojects.

o Teachingthiscurriculumeitherthroughoneofthemandatorytech-labsoras

a2-unitlab.

3. TopromoteandcreatepartnershipsbetweentheEverettprogramanddepartments

onUCcampusesinvolvedinresearchconcerningsocialand/orenvironmental

justicethroughanactiveoutreachandinformationalcampaignaboutthisproject.

ThisobjectivewasdevelopedthroughassessingtheneedoftheEverettprogramto

engageinprojectsacrossdepartmentsontheUCSCcampus.Fulfillingthisobjective


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willaidinmaintainingandincreasingthediversityoftheEverettprogram,

especiallyintermsoftheprogram’seffortsatattractinganinterdisciplinarystudent

base.Planneddeliverablesincluded:

o Creatinganddistributingastandardizedletterhighlightingthebenefitsof

digitizedsurveytools,whiledescribingthisproject’sgoals,resourcesand

requirements.

o SeekingoutongoingorproposedUCsponsoredprojectsthatwould

potentiallybegoodpartnersofthisprogram.

o FollowinguponestablishingpartnershipacrossUCdepartmentsonan

ongoingbasis.

LearningtheTechnology

Duringthesummerof2015Ipurchased12SamsungGalaxytabletswitha$2000grant

fromtheEverettProgramandpreparedthembyregisteringthemtocommonGmail

accountSamsungaccounts.IdownloadedthefreeandopensourcedigitalsurveyappKobo

Collectonalltablets,andsetthemupfordualuserstolimitstudentaccesstoapplications

non-vitaltothesurveyingprocess.Thisprocessaidedmeinbecomingfamiliarwiththe

overalllayoutandfunctionofthetablets.

IalsostartedengagingwithonlineforumsandtutorialsonhowtousetheKoboToolbox

formbuilderduringsummerandfallof2015.Thisprocesshascontinuedthroughoutthe

implementationoftheprojectasneedsarosebasedontheactualquestionsusedintheNo

PlaceLikeHomesurvey.AsIdidnotreceivetheactualsurveyuntilthebeginningofthe

2016springquarter,andonly4weeksbeforesurveyinginthefieldwasscheduledtostart,

Iwasaffordedverylimitedtimetoactuallydesignthedigitizedversionofthesurvey.The

monthsleadinguptoSpring16werethusinstrumentalinallowingmetoquicklyaccess

thefunctionsandsettingsintheformbuilderinordertoefficientlycreatethesurvey.


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ResearchingFundingOpportunities

ThecombinationoftheEverettgrant,andthefundsputforwardbytheUCSCCenterforLabor

Studiesprovedtobesufficienttopurchasetheneeded20tablets,includingprotectivecarrying

cases.OriginallyIhadbudgeted$100forteachingmaterials,butasallthematerialsusedare

digital,thisexpectedcostwaseffectivelyeliminated.Theprojectthusstayedwithinbudget

withouttheneedtoapplyforanyadditionalfunding.

PreparationfortheFieldwork

Inadditiontothepreviouslymentionedtaskoffamiliarizingmyselfwiththehardwareand

softwareneededforthisproject,IenrolledinthecourseSOCY177EEcoMetropolistaughtby

chiefinvestigatoroftheNoPlaceLikeHomeprojectMiriamGreenbergduringthewinterquarter

of2016.Thecourseservedadoublepurposeaspreparationforthisproject,throughintroducing

metoU.S.housingpoliciesandlocalhousingissueswhilesimultaneouslyfacilitatingthe

developmentofrapportwiththestudentsintheclass,themajorityofwhomcontinuedonto

ProfessorStevenMcKaySOCY176Acourseandconductedsurveysinthefield.

Priorcourseworkhasalsopreparedmeforthisproject,andespeciallytheSOCY30A,B,andC

courseswereinstrumentalingainingfamiliaritywithgrantwriting,projectplanning,project

implementation,andprojectevaluation.Althoughthetechnologylabsthataremandatory

throughtheseriesdidnotspecificallypreparemethroughpassingknowledgeaboutdigital

surveying,theyimbuedmewithanoverallconfidenceinmyabilitytolearnnewtechnologyas

needed.


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Section2–ImplementationandEvaluation

ImplementingtheProject

Thetwoaspectsoftheprojects,teachingstudentshowtousetabletsinthefieldfordigital

surveying,andteachingstudents,Everettpersonnel,andfellowshowtocreatedigitalsurveyswas

initiallyovershadowedbyanintensefourweeks’periodatthebeginningofthespringquarter

2016.Duringthatperiod,virtuallyallmyfreetimeandattentionwasfocusedondigitizingtheNo

PlaceLikeHomesurveyinstrumentthatwaspresentedtomeinaWorddocumentonMarch27,

twodaysbeforethe176Asurveyclasswasscheduledtoconveneforthefirsttime.

- BuildingtheSurvey

AlthoughtheKoboToolboxformbuilderhasbeendevelopedbytheHarvardHumanitarian

Institutetofacilitatethecreationofdigitalsurveyinstrumentswithoutextensiveknowledge

abouthowtoworkinExcelthroughprovidinguserfriendly‘drop-and-drag’and‘copy-and-paste’

functions,transferringthequestionsfromanon-digitaltoadigitalformatrequiredextensive

hoursofwork.Whilebuildingthesurveys,thetemplatewasconstantlyrevisedbyprofessor

McKayinconsultationwithprofessorVeronicaTerriquezoftheUCSCCenterforStatistical

AnalysisintheSocialSciences.Frequentrevisionsmeantfrequentupdates,followedby

changesinskiplogicandvalues.ThesurveywassimultaneouslytranslatedintoaSpanish

versionbyateamofstudenttranslators,andneededtobeprogrammedandupdated

concurrently.Althoughwedeployedtwopilotsurveysduringthefirstthreeweeksofthe

quarterwhichallowedthestudentsmakingupthe20surveyteamssomepracticetimeand

anopportunitytogetfamiliarwiththesurveyquestions,theactualsurveywasnot

completedanddeployedonthetabletsuntilthedayofthefirstsurveyinginthefield.

Astherealsurveyingstartedwithoutanytimeforpilotingthesurveyconstantupdates

wereneeded.Somechangeswereduetowordingofquestionsthatweredeemed

confusing,othersoccurredbecauseaskiplogicwasnotworkingasithadbeenintended.In

addition,theinitialSpanishversionwasreferredtobythesurveyorsas“clunky”,“not

flowing”and“tooformalwhichresultedinanotherweekofworkingcloselywiththe


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translationteam,re-programmingtheSpanishversion,andredeployingtheduallanguage

surveyoneweeklaterbeforeourseconddayinthefield.Followingtheseconddeployment,

twomorefollowedbeforethequarterwasover,againduetoissuesofwording,andina

fewinstancesaddingansweroptionstothesurveyasdatapatternsemerged.

- TeachingStudentsHowtoSurveyUsingTablets

Teachingthestudentshowtousethetabletsforsurveyingprovedfairlyuncomplicatedas

allhavepriorexperiencewithmobiledevices,andthesurveyinterfaceisdesignedtomake

accessanduseeasyregardlessoflevelsofexperiencewithdigitaltools.Onthedaythe

studentswereintroducedtothetabletsinclass,Ishowedthemthebasicsofhowtoaccess

thesurveyusinganoverheadprojectorandmyownpersonaltablet.Afterthisbrief

introductionthestudentsfamiliarizedthemselveswiththepilotsurveyinteamsoftwo

whileIcirculatedtheroomassistingteamsandansweringquestionsasneeded.Although

studentswerefamiliarwithusingmobiledevicesnonehadexperienceusingstyluspensto

writeontouchscreens,andasthisisanoptionthatforsomemightprovefasterthan

typingtheanswers,Imadeapointofshowingstudentshowtosetupthisfunction.

- TeachingStudents,Faculty,EverettStaff,andFellowsHowtoBuildaDigitizedSurvey

InordertoteachtheinterestedpartiesabouttheKoboToolboxformbuilder,Icreatedaseparate

38questionsurveywhereIusedthemostcommonquestiontypes,groupingofquestions,and

skiplogicfunctions.Itookscreenshotsofallthenecessaryfunctions,addedcomments,andused

theseinthecreationofapresentationusedinaworkshopIledtwicetowardstheendofthe

spring2016quarterforatotalof12individuals.Duringtheworkshop,Itaughthowtocreatea

surveydirectlyintheformbuilder,howtouploadanexistingsurveyinExcelformat,howto

deploythesurvey,andhowtoaccessthesurveyonmobiledevicesoraswebforms.Ialsotouched

brieflyonhowtoconductpreliminarydataanalysisdirectlythroughtheKoboToolboxaccount.


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- WaysinWhichtheGoalsfortheProjectChanged

FormysecondgoalIhadenvisionedteachinghowtobuildadigitalsurveyanduseitforfield

workontabletstoEverettstudentsenrolledintheSociology30A,B,andCcourseseriesatsome

pointduringthe2015/16academicyear.ThispreliminaryplanwaschangedasIneededtogain

substantialhandsonexperiencemyselftoidentifywhataneffectivecurriculumwouldpossibly

looklike.AsIreceivedtheactualsurvey,andinitiatedtheprojectinthebeginningofthespring

quarterof2016asopposedtomyinitialtimelineoffall2015,Ididnothavetheadequate

resourcesorsupportneededtoembarkonacurriculumbuildingeffortthusearly.InsteadI

devisedtheworkshop,andwasabletogarnerinterestoutsideofregularcoursehours.

AlthoughthethirdgoalofpromotingandcreatingpartnershipsbetweentheEverettprogram

anddepartmentsonUCcampusesinvolvedinresearchconcerningsocialand/or

environmentaljusticewasfulfilledthroughtheactualimplementationoftheproject,Iwas

unabletocreateanyfuturepartnership.ThiswasmainlybecauseIdidnotfullyknowwhat

Iwouldbepromotinguntil,ifnotcompletion,atleastapreliminarypreparationforthe

projecthadbeencompleted.AspreviouslymentionedIreceivedtheactualsurvey

instrumentinwordformatsolatethatatthatpointIhadmyhandsfullwithimplementing

theactualproject.Althoughthispartoftheprojectwasnotcompletedasplanned,Ido

believethatmyeffortsthroughthisprojectcanbeusedtoestablishsimilarrelationships

betweentheEverettprogram,UCdepartments,andpartnerorganizationsinthefuture.

- WaysinWhichtheActualProjectDifferedfromtheOriginalPlan

EventhoughIsucceededincreatingcurriculumthatconcernstheuseofthesurvey

technology,itwastaughtinaworkshopandnotthroughoneofthemandatorytechlabs.I

hadplannedforthelabtobeanimportantpartofensuringsustainabilityoftheproject

throughimbuingtheentirecohortofEverettstudentswiththeknowledgeneededtocreate

andconductdigitalsurveys.Thechangeinplansforcedmetore-thinkhowsustainability

couldbeachieved.Earlyoninthespring2016quarterIapproachedoneofthestudents

thatwerepartoftheNoPlaceLikeHomeproject,andthatalsorecentlyhadbeenelecteda


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fellowoftheEverettProgram,andaskedifshewouldconsiderjoiningforceswithme.After

receivingclearancefromprofessorMcKay,Iproposedthathertaskinthesurveyproject

wouldbetoassistmeincreatingthesurvey,whileIwouldteachherhowtodoso.Iasked

ofherthatshewouldcommitthesameamountofhoursshewouldhaveonanyotherteam

ofthesurveyeffort,andthatshewouldcommittoteachingatleastoneotherEverettfellow

howtodowhatshewasnowabouttolearnbeforegraduatingfromUCSC.AssuchIwas

devisingapassingofthebatonofsorts.Initiallythisstudentseemedexcitedatmy

proposal,butafterjustafewweeksshedroppedthecoursealtogetherduetohaving

overextendedherselfintermsofhowmanycoursesshehadsignedupfor,andIwasback

tosquareoneintermsofsustainability.

Atthispoint,aboutmidwayofthequarter,Icametotwoimportantrealizations.Firstly,the

EverettprogramhadrecentlyhiredaResearchSpecialist,GabriellaGiusta,andshehad

consultedmeaboutthedigitizedsurveyforalectureshewasgivingonresearchmethods,

anditstruckmethatbygivingGiustamoreindepthknowledgeondigitizedsurvey

buildingshecouldteachEverettstudentsandfellowsastheneedmayarise.Secondly,I

recruitedonestudentthatconductedsurveysfortheNoPlaceLikeHomeprojectbothas

thestudentwhowillcontinuetoworkonthedigitalaspectsofthesurveythroughoutthe

courseofthisproject,andalsoasafutureEverettstudentasshehasenrolledin30Aforfall

2016.

- WaysinWhichtheImplementationDifferedfromtheOriginalPlan

Aspreviouslystated,Ireceivedthesurveytodigitizemereweeksbeforeitwastobeusedinthe

field.Ihadexpectedtobeabletodigitizethesurveyovertime,startingasearlyasmid-fall2015.

Suchatimelinewouldhaveprovidedanidealscenarioofsurveybuilding,piloting,andrevising

beforeconductingactualfieldwork.InsteadtheSOCY176Acoursethatfunctionedasthefirst

implementationofthesurveyinthefield,alsofunctionedasthepilotingofthesurvey.

Eachtimeanewversionisdeployed,itneedstobeuploadedphysicallytoeachofthetablet,

promptingmetospendafairamountoftimeupdatingstudent’stabletsduringlecturetime,and


TONJE SWITZER 16

meetingwiththosethathadforgottentobringthetablettoclassoutsideoflecturetime.Ihadnot

envisionedthis,andhadassuchnottrainedtheindividualstudentsintheprocessofupdating

theirowntablets.Here,adifferenceinfamiliaritywithtechnologybecamemorepronounced.

Whilesomeofthestudentsfeltcomfortableupdatingthetabletsontheirown,othersdidnotand

preferredgettinghelpwiththis.

ImplementingtheProject

- ImpactonIntendedBeneficiaries

Thisprojecteliminatedtheneedformanualdatainput,freeingup8studentsperquarterto

conductsurveysinthefield.Italsoeliminatedinlargeparttheneedfordatacleaning,ajobthat

duringtheWorkingforDignityprojectwasbudgetedat$1500.Thereisalsomuchlessmissing

datathistimearound,asmostquestionsaremandatory,andcan’tbeskipped.

Thestudentsthatwerepartofthefieldsurveyteamswereimpactedthroughlearninghowtouse

tabletsfordigitizedsurveying,askillthatisvaluableinahostofsettings.Furthertheyreceiveda

full-circlelearningexperienceabouttheirpersonalcontributiontothesurveyproject.Thiswas

achievedduetothetheimmediateaccessibilityofthedataforanalysis,andeachstudentthat

conductedsurveyswerethuspresentedwithafairlysimplesetofselectvariablesontheexact

surveystheirteamoftwohadconducted.Forthefinalresearchpaper,theywereaskedtoanalyze

theirfindingsandplaceitincontextoftheirfieldexperience.Thisstandsinstarkoppositiontothe

WorkingforDignityprojectwheresomeofthestudentsthatconductedsurveysintheinitialparts

oftheprocesshadevengraduatedbeforeanyinferencesaboutthedatacouldbemade.

StudentsthatsurveyedforboththeWorkingforDignityproject,andtheNoPlaceLikeHome

Surveyreportedthattheypreferredtheusingthetabletforvariousreasons.Onewasthesimple

practicalityofnotneedingtocarrystacksofpaperwiththeminthefield,anotherwasthe

eliminatedneedofmeetingwithprofessorMcKaytoreceivenewsurveysoncetheyranout,but

couldconductasmanysurveysastheywishedwithnoneedtocheck-ininbetween.Iwascurious

tofindoutiftheindividualssurveyedseemedtopreferoneversionovertheother,andwas


TONJE SWITZER 17

pleasedtohearreportsthatindicatedthattherewasapreferenceforthetabletsfromthe

individualsbeingsurveyedaswell.Therationaleforthiswasthatwiththepapersurveys,some

peoplewereworriedthatthesurveyscouldbetracedbacktothemincasethesurveyorsomehow

lostthesurvey,whilewiththetabletseveryonewerecomfortablethattheirinformationwassafe.

Thestudentsalsoreportedthatconductingthesurveysonthetabletwaslessconfusingforthem,

asonlyquestionsthatappliedtothesituationwouldappear,atestamenttothefunctionalityof

theskiplogic.Accordingtothestudentsthisallowedformorerapportbetweenthesurveyorand

thesurveyed,asawkwardprocessesandslowtransitionswereeliminated.

Thestudents,faculty,Everettstaff,andfellowsthatparticipatedintheworkshopalsogained

insightandsomepracticeintheprocessofcreatingadigitalsurveyintheKoboToolboxform

builder.Thisisalsoahighlyvaluableskillforanysocialsciencefield.Someofthesestudentswill

becontinuouslyinvolvedintheNoPlaceLikeHomeproject,ensuringthesustainabilityofthat

particularproject,whileotherssuchastheEverettProgram’sresearchspecialistwillbe

instrumentalinassuringthesustainabilityofthisprojectingeneral.

Theimpactonthesurveyedpopulationisimpossibletopredictatthispointasitisdependenton

thepoliticalwillwithintheCityandCountyofSantaCruz.Evenso,thedigitizingofthesurvey

processis,throughtheongoingcompilingandanalysisofthedata,facilitatingearlyinteractions

betweenthedataandthepublic.Aneventformid-Septemberisalreadyintheplanningstages,as

itwillpresentanopportunitytoinformSantaCruzCityCouncilmembers,candidates,and

constituentsabouttheissuesresultingfromthehousingcrisisbeforetheupcomingelection.

ThisprojecthasaddeddigitalsurveyingtotherepertoireoftechnologiesemployedbytheEverett

Programtoamelioratesocialandenvironmentaljusticeissues.Digitalsurveyingisatoolthatcan

beimplementedbothasthetechcomponentinastudent/organizationpartnershipproject,as

wellastoenrichtheincreasedresearchfocusoftheEverettprogram.

IamsatisfiedwiththedigitalsurveytoolIchose,andhowitfitwiththescopeofthisproject.Kobo

Toolboxisdesignedforusebyindividualsthatdoesnotnecessarilyhaveextensivetech

background,afactorthatgreatlyimprovetheoddsofthesustainabilityofthisprojectasitmakes


TONJE SWITZER 18

itavailableforstudentsatanyleveloftechproficiency.Anotheraspectwiththesoftwareisthatin

spiteofbeingfeeandopensourceithasanexcellentsupportservice.Thereisanextensiveonline

forumwhereonecanfindtheanswertomostissuesthatmightcomeup,andiftheanswers

neededaren’tshowingupthere,theKobodeveloperswillgetbackwithadetailedinstructions

andupdatespersonally.

TheonlynegativeaspectIdiscoveredaboutKoboisinrealityadisguisedpositive:Becausethe

developersareconstantlyworkingonimprovingtheinterfacedesignandfunctionality,there

wereafewtimeswhenthetoolboxwasnotrespondingasIhadexpected.Around16hours

beforeweweresurveyinginthefieldforthefirsttime,Iwaschangingafewcrucialskiplogic

functions,andfromoneminutetothenext,thesettingsfunctionintheformbuilderstopped

workingresultinginacompletelackofaccesstothetoolsIneededtocompletethesurvey.I

emailedthedevelopersTinoandAlexdesperatelyaskingforassistance,followedbyareplyafew

nervewreckinghourslater.Turnsoutthattheywerechangingcertainaspectsoftheformbuilder

inordertomakeitpossibletoredeployapreviouslydeployedform,amajoradvantagewhen

changesareneededafterthefirstdeploymenthasalreadyoccurred.Theseminorchangeshave

continuedtooccurthroughtheimplementationoftheproject,andalwaysforthebetter.Inthe

nearfutureitwill,accordingtothedevelopers,alsobepossibletoaddasecondlanguagedirectly

intheformbuilderasopposedtodownloadingtheexcelformat,addingthesecondlanguage,and

uploadingtheexcelformagain.

TheSamsungGalaxytabletswereanintegralpartoftheproject,andIampleasedwithhowthey

workedinunisonwiththeKoboapp.Somestudentsusedtheirphonesafewtimes,andthis

workedwellalso,althoughthebenefitofalargerscreenwaspronounced,especiallywhentyping

inanswerstoopenendedquestions.

Icreatedasecondsurveyforcollectionofcontactinformationforindividualsthatagreedtobe

contactedagainforanindepthinterview.Therearetwoaspectsofthisprocessthatareworth

mentioningindetail.


TONJE SWITZER 19

1. DuringtheWorkingforDignityproject,everyonesurveyedwereinvitedtoparticipatein

anindepthinterview.Thiscreatedanunnecessaryamountofworkfortheteamtasked

withcreatingdigitalstoriesfromtheinterviewsthathadsalientstoriesabout

discrimination,retaliation,wagetheftetc.astheyhadtolistenthroughahostofinterviews

thatdidnotpresentacompellingstory.Inordertoavoidthis,andstreamlinetheprocess,I

createdaskiplogicpatterninthesurveysothatthequestionaboutaindepthinterview

onlywouldcomeupattheendofthesurveyifcertainanswerswereanswered

affirmatively.

2. Thecontactinformationoftheindividualsthatagreedtositforanin-depthinterviewhad

toberecordedseparatelytopreservetheiranonymity.DuringtheWorkingforDignity

projectthesurveyorwouldsimplyplotdownthisinformationonapieceofpaperseparate

fromthesurvey,andlaterturnthisintoprofessorMcKay.Tostreamlinethisprocess,I

createdaquestionnairethatstudentsneedtoaccessseparatelyfromthemainsurvey,and

inwhichweonlyrecordthefirstnameandemailaddressorphonenumberofthe

interviewee.Thisapproachhasworkedverywell,andwehavegathered187contactsfor

in-depthinterviewssofar,someofwhichwerealreadyconductedduringspring-16.

VisualdocumentisanintegralpartoftheNoPlaceLikeHomeproject,andseveralstudentsare

taskedsolelywithphotographingtheareasandconditionsofthehousingstockinthe

neighborhoodswherethesurveysareconducted.Oneaspectthatgoesmissinginthisprocessis

photosfrominsidethehomeswherethesurveystakeplace.Thisagainisanissueof

confidentiality,asthesurveysmustnotcontainanyinformationthatcouldidentifythesurveyed.

AssuchIamintheprocessofcreatingathirdsurvey,thatwillbeusedtophotographinsidethe

subjects’homes,pendingtheirpermission.

IamconvincedthattheKoboToolboxsoftware,andtheKoboCollectappforthetabletswere

idealtoolsforthisproject.Theyareeasytouse,andveryversatileintermsofwhattypeof

questionsonecancreate.Theyalsoallowforeasymodificationduringanongoingsurveywhich

hasprovenacrucialcomponentduringtheimplementationofthisproject.


TONJE SWITZER 20

LessonsforSuccessfulProjectImplementation

Thisprojectconstitutedvastamountsofsolitarybusyworkwhilebuildingthesurvey

interspersedwithmomentsofteamactivityduringfieldworkroundups,andmomentsof

teachingthetechcomponenttoduringclasstimeortheworkshops.AssuchIwasrequiredto

shiftfocusandapproachdependingonthesituation,andusekeentime-managementandre-

prioritizetasksasneedsshifted.Thisshiftinfocusfromdetailtobigpicture,andfromindividual

togroupeffortsuitsmypersonalitywell,andIthrivedinthistypeofasetting.

IfeltwellpreparedforimplementingthisprojectthroughmycompletionoftheSOCY30series

coursework,andthetechnologylabs.Throughplanningtheproject,andwritingthegrant

proposal,IdevisedastepbystepplanforhowIenvisionedtheprojectwouldoccur.Although

somedeliverablesbecameunobtainablealongtheway,Iwasabletokeepmysightsonthe

identifiedoverarchinggoal,andthemainobjectives.Ibelievethatwithouttheextensive

preparationintheSOCY30series,itwouldhavebeenmoredifficulttostayontrackasaspects

changed.Thetechnologylabspreparedmebybuildingtheconfidenceneededtoapproacha

projectwithamaintechnologycomponentthatIwasnotyetfamiliarwithatthetime.Thetwo

WordPresslabsIwasenrolledinalsohelped,astheKoboformbuilderinterfaceissimilarin

certainways.

LessonsforSocialInnovation

IenteredthisprojectthinkingthatIwouldhaveplentyoftimetodigitizethesurveybeforethefieldwork

wouldstart,whileinfactitwasaconstantraceagainstdeadlines.EveryforumandpaperIhavereadabout

creatingsurveyinstrumentsprofesstheneedforextensivepilotingtocatchandfixissuesbeforetheactual

surveyingbegin,andIcansecondthatthatwouldhavebeenaverygoodidea.Althoughthisaspectofthe

projectwasbeyondmycontrol,ifIweretodoasimilareffortinthefuture,Iwouldrequestamuchroomier

timelineforworkingoutinitialsurveykinks.

ThisprojecthasdeepenedmyunderstandingoftheimpactthatCBPRprojectscanhaveonsocial

problems,andalsohowdigitizingtheCBPReffortisinstrumentalinactingontheresearchinatimely


TONJE SWITZER 21

manner.Inthecaseofthisproject,CityCouncilmembers,andotherstakeholdersinthecommunityhave

shownimmenseinterestintheresearch,assuchanumericallyrepresentativesampleofrentershasnever

beforebeenpresentedinSantaCruz.Becausethedataisimmediatelyavailableforanalysis,wewillbeable

topresentpreliminaryfindingsduringthecourseofthesurvey,coincidingthereleaseofinformationwith

communityeventsthatarealignedwiththepurposeoftheresearch.

HumanInterestPoint

Aftereachdayinthefieldtheentireteamwouldconveneintheneighborhoodscommunitycenter

andsharesomefood,andstoriesfromtheafternoon’ssurveyingexperience.Oneoftheseearly

eveningsInoticeoneofthestudentswalkinginwithtearyeyesandasadlookonherface.Iask

whatisthematter,andsherespondsbysharingthestoriesshehasjustheardoffamiliesescaping

gangviolenceonlytofindthemselveslivingwithratsandcockroachesandwaterdripping

throughtheroofontothechildren’sbedswhenitisraining…Thefamilyendedthesurveyby

askingifthestudentcouldpleasehelpthemfindanother,andbetter,placetolive.

Forme,thisisthereallesson;thateventhoughwesuccessfullyharnesstechnologyinthepursuit

ofsocialjustice,maintainingafocusonthepeopleattheheartoftheissuesisparamountin

pursuingsolutionsthatgeneraterealchange.


TONJE SWITZER 22

WorksCited

Anon.n.d.“WorkingforDignity.”WorkingforDignity.RetrievedMay20,2016(http://workingfordignity.ucsc.edu/).

Backor,Kristen,SaarGolde,andNormanNie.2007.“EstimatingSurveyFatigueinTime

UseStudy.”1–59. Minkler,Meredith.n.d.“PromotingHealthyPublicPolicyThroughCommunity-Based

ParticipatoryResearch:TenCaseStudies”policylink.org.RetrievedApril6,2015

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Tonje Switzer Project Practicum