Collect Data

For information on collecting data with mobile devices, please see Mobile Data Collection.

For resources on collecting data on sexual orientation & gender identity (SOGI), please see SOGI Data.

Evaluation results are only as good as the data collected. To obtain high-quality data, it's important to define what you want to know, determine your sample, understand the cultural environment you'll be working in, develop and test the instrument, recruit, train, and monitor data collectors, organize team logistics, and collect the data.

For guidance on consumer testing of educational materials and messaging, please see the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC) Guide for Consumer Testing Educational Materials.

Scroll down for resources on conducting surveys, interviews, observations, and more. 

Conducting Surveys

Coalition Surveys

If you are a California tobacco control program seeking a satisfaction survey for your coalition, consider our easy-to-use online survey. Here's a sample of what it includes. You can copy and customize the survey to fit your needs, send out a link to your coalition, and analyze the data in a format of your choosing. It's a fast and convenient way to conduct your coalition survey!

• Youth Coalition Intake Survey
• Youth Coalition Satisfaction Survey

Online Surveys

• Increasing Response Rates for Online Surveys
• Designing Online and Mobile Surveys (1:05:56)

Education or Participant Satisfaction Surveys

• Evaluating Education and Training Activities (51:27)
• Dissatisfaction with Satisfaction Surveys (54:39)
  • Post Session Participant Survey - contains a bank of question statements
  • Post Webinar Feedback Form - contains a set of retrospective pre/post survey questions
    • Summary Report Template (Note: The summary report is formatted in PowerPoint instead of Word because it is so much easier to lay out graphic elements in PowerPoint. Once you are happy with your report, you can save and share it as a PDF.)

Public Opinion Surveys/Intercept Surveys

• Public Opinion Surveys (39:00)
• Public Opinion Survey Guidance

Tobacco Purchase Survey

• Young Adult Tobacco Purchase Survey (requires Partners access)
• Local Adult Flavored Tobacco Purchase Survey (requires Partners access)

Interviewing Key Informants

• Conducting Interviews
• Conducting Interviews with Retailers
• Evaluation Scenarios: Key Informant Interviews (5:34)
• KII Presentation Slides

Leading Focus Groups

For guidance about using focus groups for materials testing, contact the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC)

• Conducting Focus Group Interviews

Making Observations

• Observation Methods
• Writing Field Notes

Reviewing Media Activity & Policy Records

• Policy Record Review Tool and Tips
• Policy Record Review (49:34)
• Policy/Document Review Example
• Using Public Records
• Knowing When to Make Your Move: Reviewing Policy Records (1:01:05)
• Earned and Paid Media Evaluation (56:51)
• Downloading Facebook Data and Summarizing Results
• Media Activity Records (Evaluation Activities for Non-Evaluators) (1:00:16)
• MAR Specifications
• MAR Tracking Form

Other Methods

• Photovoice: A Powerful Tool for Engaging Community Members (1:00:57)
• Photovoice for Evaluation (1:07:49)
• Photovoice: Concept, Methodology, and Use for Participatory Needs Assessment
• Coalition Participant Tracking Form/Member Participation Record
• Instrument Essentials: Coalition Participation Log/Diversity Matrix
• Coalition Asset Mapping