University of Bristol use TeleForm to capture data from paper questionnaires
Based at the University of Bristol, the Children of the 90s study, also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), is a world-leading birth cohort study.
The study has followed the health and development of more than 14,000 children and their parents since the early 90s when the children were born. Data has been collected regularly from the participants including via questionnaires (see Fig. 1). Details of the study can be found on their website.
Supported by ePC, Children of the 90s use TeleForm to capture data from the paper versions of their questionnaires.
The data capture software enables Children of the 90s to design and distribute questionnaires and scan returned forms. During scanning, TeleForm reads the information and extracts data from the digital image using OMR for multiple-choice questions, ICR for handwriting recognition, and barcode recognition. If TeleForm is unsure about any character or field, it is flagged for human verification with valid data exported for statistical analysis.
Data from the multi-generational study, the most detailed of its kind in the world, has changed people’s understanding of childhood health and is helping to provide a better life for future generations. TeleForm has been a key component in achieving this.
Example ALSPAC Parents’ Questionnaire 2020.
This form was completed by the original study mothers and fathers with questions about health, faith and beliefs, feelings, reproductive health and future data collection thoughts.
