Application and Performance of Google Forms for Online Data Collection and Analysis: A Case of North Eastern Region of India

Abstract

Google is a worldwide recognized search engine. It also provides internet related services and products to a wide range of  users at greater utility and lesser cost. Google also launched web based applications like Google docs, Google forms,  Google drive, Google slides, Google sheets, etc., which has immense potential for increasing productivity of  academicians, researchers, students, professionals and policy makers, etc. Among the above mentioned web based  applications, Google forms is one of the most important tools having great relevance to social science in general and data  collection methodology in particular. To study the feasibility and performance of Google forms in KVKs of North Eastern  region, i.e. Zone-III, three pilot tests were taken to collect data. The online forms were created and online data were  collected for various projects and activities of the ATARI Zone-III, Umiam, Meghalaya. The outcomes depicted that in  eight North Eastern States, the success of data collection and response rate is more than the traditional and manual way of  data collection. All KVKs connected with stable internet connection were able to feed and submit data. The responses  increased tremendously when respondents were systematically targeted. Thus, Google forms can significantly make  difference to collect online data from respondents who are connected with internet. In order to collect data from  respondents who don't have access to the internet (ex. Marginal farmers, tribal and rural populations) researchers can use  smartphones or tablet-PCs to collect real time data with greater speed. It will save the paper time and manual efforts of  researchers. The non-tampered analysis of survey with fullest authenticity is also possible within few seconds without any  manual tabulation and coding. Hence, Google form is a boon for enhancing research productivity of scholars of the  National Agricultural Research System.