SurveyCTO Programming Work Flow

While it is possible to code a SurveyCTO questionnaire in any different way, the time it will take and the quality of final product, depends a lot on how the work is planned. This article outlines an approach common among expereinced SurveyCTO programmers at DIME.

Paper First

Paper based survey. Test the way questions are asked. The questions are asked in a way that suits the programming, not other way araound. See Questionnaire Design.

Template Forms

SurveyCTO provides template forms that have the basic settings already in place. Always start by using them.

Pseudo Code

Writing pseudo code is a method that all computer scientist use to before starting to write code when they are not exactly sure how all details of that code will be in the end. It is very rare that anyone starting to code a SurveyCTO questionnaire knows how all modules will be coded, so writing pseudo code is the best place to start.

Writing pseudo code is simple to start by describing at a high level what the code will do (often in bullet points) in plain English. After all functions of the code is described at a high level, more details is added. As detail is added the language is also changes from plain English to something that resembles code more and more. Computer scientist very often write pseudo code with pen and paper or on a white board.

The next subsection gives a quick introduction on how to write pseudo code in relation to a SurveyCTO questionnaire.

Listing the modules

The highest level a questionnaire can be described on are the modules. So start by writing a list of the modules in your questionnaire:

• HH Roster
• Employment
• Savings
• Maternal Health