November 6, 2013 

The iPad Computer-Assisted 

Personal Interview System – 

A Revolution for In-Person 

Data Capture? 

Heather Driscoll, M.S. 

James Dayton, M.B.A. 

2013 FCSM Conference 

Washington, DC 

®

icfi.com |
Presentation Outline 

 iPad® Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (iCAPI) System 

 iCAPI in the Field 

 iCAPI Evaluating Results/Project Takeaways 

 Is iCAPI Right for Your Project? 

 Looking Ahead 

icfi.com | 2 
iPad® Computer-Assisted Personal 

Interview System (iCAPI) 

 iCAPI (i·kap·e), n.

• An iPad® data collection tool that replaces traditional pencil and 

paper methods 

 Potential Advantages 

• No printing costs 

• No data entry/scanning 

• Improved data quality 

• GPS navigation capabilities 

• Real time quota tracking 

• Increased data security 

 Anticipated Challenges 

• Field viability (ex: battery 

life, weather conditions, etc.) 

• Increased interview time 

• Increased programming time 

• Training 

• Device security 

• Connectivity 

icfi.com | 3 
iCAPI In the Field 

 Fisheries Pilot Tests 

 Large-scale intercept survey of recreational 

saltwater anglers 

 Beaches, docks, marinas 

 Pennsylvania Water Trails Survey 

 Economic impact study of designated Water 

Trails 

 River access points 

 Context Scan Study (Pricing Component) 

 Observation of geographic access to specific 

food and promotion of healthy and less healthy 

foods 

 Grocery stores and convenience stores 

icfi.com | 4 
Pilot Tests – Fisheries Intercept 

Goal - Determine feasibility of iCAPI for large-scale fisheries intercept 

survey, including suitability for field conditions, impact on data quality, 

and cost. 

Pilot Test Phase I: 

Observational Data 

• Tested – Functionality 

• Data collected 

– Fishing site descriptions 

– Vessel observations 

• 1st Generation iPad ®

• Web-based survey, SPSS 

Dimensions 

Pilot Test Phase II: 

Catch Data 

• Tested - Productivity (Cost) 

– Interviews per assignment 

• Data collected 

– Selecting fish species 

– Recording number of fish 

– Recording weights/lengths 

– Grouped catch 

• 1st Generation iPad ®

• Custom Apple app
Pennsylvania Water Trails 

Economic Impact Study 

Goal - Estimate the direct, indirect and induced 

economic impact of water trail visitors on 

Pennsylvania's economy. 

Method - Expenditure survey conducted 

through intercept interviews at randomly 

selected access sites. 

− 6 weeks of data collection during summer 

months 

− Remote, rural and urban locations 

Mode - In-person interviews using iCAPI data 

collection via a customized application with 2nd

generation iPads®. 

− 7 iCAPI local interviewers 

− Collected 350 in-person interviews 

icfi.com | 6 
Context Scan Study – 

Pricing Component 

Goal – Assess the availability, pricing and promotion 

of healthy/less healthy food items 

Method – Observation at 450 sampled grocery 

and convenience stores. 

− 15 awardee communities in the National 

Evaluation of CDC's Community 

Transformation Grant Program 

− 30 stores per community (12 grocery, 18 

convenience) 

− 15 weeks of data collection 

− Remote, rural and urban locations 

Mode - In-person observation using iCAPI data 

collection via Askia Software application with 

2

nd generation iPads®. 

icfi.com | 7 
Evaluating Results 

Quantitative – Fisheries Pilots 

iPad® performed as well or better than paper: 

• Interviews per assignment 

• Recording number of fish 

• Recording fish length and weight 

• Number of errors 

Qualitative – All Projects 

Praise for the iPad® 

• Easy to use

• Ability to withstand 

field conditions 

Criticism of iPad® 

• Glare 

• Speed 

• Difficulty holding the 

iPad® 

• Typing 

icfi.com | 8 
iCAPI Project Takeaways - Benefits 

 Performance 

− Demonstrated field durability 

− Instant data transfer 

• Secure data storage if connection is lost 

− Improved communication and navigation in the field 

− Efficient supervision of staff with real-time communication, 

iPad® tracking 

− Staff enthusiasm 

 Improved data quality 

− Survey program reduced interviewer error 

 Project cost savings 

− Printing/postage costs (also greener!)

− Data entry costs 

− Staff time to investigate and resolve possible errors 

icfi.com | 9 
iCAPI Project Takeaways - Drawbacks 

 Project cost 

− Initial cost of iPads® and accessories 

− Data plan for 3G connectivity 

− Programming 

 Hardware limitations 

− Glare 

− Typing 

icfi.com | 10
Is iCAPI Right for Your Project? 

 iCAPI cost effectiveness ultimately depends on layers of 

scale 

− Project scope 

− iPad® survey development and programming 

− Timeline of future iCAPI projects 

 Geographic location and connectivity can be a driver for 

iCAPI survey design 

− Web-based survey vs. custom application 

− Survey environment 

− Data Plan vs. Wi-Fi

 Intangibles 

− Will an interviewer with an iPad® increase respondent 

curiosity/response rate? 

− Will green technology appeal? 

− Increase interviewer engagement? 

icfi.com | 11
Looking Ahead – Rapidly Changing Market 

 Hardware 

− Cheaper tablets and tablet technology has become 

available 

− Does the depreciation of the iPad® or other tablet 

technology present a cost-prohibitive driver for expanded 

use? 

 Software 

− Will off-the-shelf survey development software provide 

capability to design effective, tailored instruments? 

− Programming across a large variety of hardware - Apple 

vs. Android 

icfi.com | 12
Questions? 

Heather Driscoll 

Principal 

Heather.Driscoll@icfi.com

802.264.3706 

Jamie Dayton 

Sr. Vice President 

James.Dayton@icfi.com

802.264.3723 

icfi.com | 13