Exploring Creative Ways to Collect Data: Dot Voting
By: Mary Parsatoon
Survey fatigue is real.
Are you a public health professional tired of using the same method over and over again to collect data? You may be one of the many who are constantly requesting others to fill a quick survey, give an interview, or participate in a focus group. While these are effective data collection methods, everything is better in moderation. Too many redundant requests can lead to survey fatigue, where participants are less likely to participate due to the number of requests or the amount of effort needed to complete them. In this post, we are not discouraging those platforms or methods but simply exploring other creative data collection methods such as the dot voting method.
What is the dot voting method?
While trying a new method may be outside of your comfort zone, this method tends to be beginner friendly. Start by creating a set of multiple choice or sliding scale questions. Write each question on top of a poster board and the response options below. The response options should each have their own box outlined to place a sticker in. Use one board per question. Next, display the boards and provide participants with a set of dot stickers. Participants can mark their responses by placing stickers in the response boxes. You can adapt the method further by limiting the number of stickers each participant receives. Check out the picture below to see an example of the dot voting method in action. This example was from an evaluation of a local SuperShelf, a program that aims to increase access to healthy foods in food shelves.
Benefits
It's an affordable, using common office supplies such as stickers, sharpies, and poster boards.
It’s beginner friendly. Don’t know how to use sophisticated online survey software? No problem!
It’s a fun way for participants to provide input.
Considerations
It’s designed for collecting quantitative data and can be adapted for qualitative data.
Participants can see what others before them responded which may alter how they respond. For example, a participant might see that a majority of participants voted response option 1 which may lead them to think response option 1 is the “right” answer.
This method typically has to be done in person. A great way to get out and meet members of the community you're serving. This especially works great in environments where folks are already gathering, like tabling events.
Start collecting data with the dot voting method!
Now that you know a little more about the dot voting method, get out and try it! Review current and upcoming data collection projects to see if it would be an appropriate tool for your question set. To learn more, check out this Nielsen Norman Group article. To get started, check out the Dot Voting Template provided by Miro.