How KoboToolbox versus Unipark platform are selected in data survey to detect child maltreatment in Vietnam: A discussion paper

Abstract

Background: Due to the importance of good data collection and management in research, studies increasingly rely on digital tools to make this process more efficient and error-free. For the topic on child maltreatment in Vietnam, we considered the Unipark and KoboToolbox to conduct our questionnaire and collect, manage, and visualize our data. This discussion paper is about which KoboToolbox or Unipark tools are better for data survey of child maltreatment studies in Vietnam. Methods: We conducted three phases: document review, experts experimented with functions, lean operation, skip logic questions of tool and validation criteria to limit errors in filling by respondents and a pilot survey was conducted by 242 students at a secondary school in Bac Giang province. Results: Through three phases in comparison with Unipark, KoboToolbox dominates. KoboToolbox is convenient and time-saving in constructing a complex questionnaire with more than four hundred questions and skips logic by Excel software and free fee. It has a validation criteria function to mitigate data bias due to filling and clustering related questions in each part, creating a friendly user interface for experts’ experience and students. Kobo toolbox’s offline data collection platform capability addressed challenges related to unstable internet connectivity in local contexts. Conclusions: Kobotoolbox was chosen and employed for optimizing constructing questionnaires, data collection efficiency, and quality, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of child maltreatment in Vietnam. Keywords: KoboToolbox, Unipark, platform, software, child maltreatment, data collection, data management.