Interactive Voice Response Technology as a Data Collection Tool Compared to a Household Survey: What We Learned

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected all aspects of life, including the Canadian Red Cross’s (CRC) operations. To continue delivering projects and evaluations under restrictions, the CRC adapted its methods. This adaptation is exemplified by the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project in Mali, launched during global lockdowns. Typically, such projects use standardized monitoring frameworks with pre–post-intervention measurements and household surveys for data collection. However, the pandemic made household surveys impractical. The CRC employed interactive voice response (IVR) technology to gather data, a method commonly used by telecommunications companies for short surveys. This study explores how the CRC used IVR for a more extended 45-minute questionnaire on sensitive topics like adolescent girls’ reproductive health. The article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of IVR compared to traditional household surveys, detailing the challenges faced and solutions implemented. Ultimately, the authors compare the effectiveness of both methods, offering insights into ensuring data quality in constrained circumstances. The evaluators’ perspectives on the two methodologies underscore the adaptability required to maintain robust data collection and project monitoring during unprecedented times.