Key Takeaways

• Informed consent should be obtained through clear, interactive consent letters outlining research purpose, participant involvement, risks, benefits, and contact details.

• Use plain language, provide additional information via links, state the right to decline or skip questions, and consider consent requirements for specific populations like children.

• Select appropriate survey tools such as Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, Lime Survey, or Qualtrics, considering cost, accessibility, question types, and survey logic.

• Utilize various question formats (e.g., matrix, rank order, constant sum), apply survey logic to tailor responses, use built-in translation features, and leverage data visualization tools.

• Structure data effectively: wide format for easier human interpretation, long format for statistical analyses and dashboards.

• Ethics clearance from the Community Research Ethics Office may be necessary, though it is not always required for program improvement.