title: Focus on Methodology: Beyond paper and pencil: Conducting computer-assisted data collection with adolescents in group settings.
abstract: Computer-assisted data collection offers advantages over traditional paper and pencil measures; however, little guidance is available regarding the logistics of conducting computer-assisted data collection with adolescents in group settings. To address this gap, we draw on our experiences conducting a multi-site longitudinal study of adolescent development. Structured questionnaires programmed on laptop computers using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI) were administered to groups of adolescents in community-based and afterschool programs. Although implementing ACASI required additional work before entering the field, we benefited from reduced data processing time, high data quality, and high levels of youth motivation. Preliminary findings from an ethnically diverse sample of 265 youth indicate favorable perceptions of using ACASI. Using our experiences as a case study, we provide recommendations on selecting an appropriate data collection device (including hardware and software), preparing and testing the ACASI, conducting data collection in the field, and managing data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: mraffael@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: jesss0@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: tran19@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: ang6f@eservices.virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Aisha N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 405 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. Electronic address: kcwalker@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 904 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: vgutierrez@prof.staugustine.edu.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D003201:Computers; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ACASI; Adolescents; Computer-assisted data collection; Methodology; Questionnaires