Creating an Automated Questionnaire Using NI LabVIEW 7 Express and LabVIEW PDA Module

Author(s):
Krian Kumar V. Kunderu - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Aaron W. Schopper - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Tracy Mirk - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Anne Brumfield - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Industry:
Research

Products:
LabVIEW PDA Module, LabVIEW

The Challenge:
Developing an alternative solution to existing paper-based questionnaires that is more efficient, user friendly, reliable, accurate, and cost effective.

The Solution:
Using National Instruments LabVIEW 7 Express and LabVIEW PDA Module to develop a smart, interactive, touch screen-based questionnaire that provides the capability to dynamically change the nature, number, and sequence of questions based on participants’ responses; obtain data from sketches; present sophisticated or complex questions more effectively; automatically capture response data; efficiently assess response consistency; and facilitate the data entry process.

The Need for a Reliable System

The Health Effects Laboratory Division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a need for an automated questionnaire to record medical, work, and exposure-related data from study participants. Initially, we used commercial software to develop a scannable, paper-based questionnaire. However, during development and implementation efforts, we encountered a number of difficulties:

• Conditional answering: With the scanning approach, we were required to use paper-based questionnaires. Accordingly, study participants were still required to move back and forth through the multiple pages of the questionnaires in response to conditional directions following an answer.
• Sketch data: We experienced difficulty incorporating small response areas within sketches to obtain detailed information. Additionally, when scanned, the small size resulted in frequent errors.
• Inadequate presentation of questions: We experienced difficulty conveying the essence of some questions through text and pictures; hence, we received incomplete or inconsistent responses.
• Image quality and precision-placement requirements: Scanning technologies are dependent upon both text and image quality and the precision of their location on the paper. Accordingly, the quality of the questionnaire reproductions, and any wrinkling of the questionnaire pages or smudges that were incurred during the completion and handling of a questionnaire (or during its disassembly prior to passing them through a scanner) resulted in omitted or invalid data.
• Response checking: We were unable to make real-time internal consistency assessments of participants’ responses. For example, in one section, the participant indicated the presence of hand pain, whereas in a subsequent section he or she indicated that there was no hand pain.
• Data entry: In field environments, test administrators first had to disassemble questionnaires and then carefully place them on the scanner (to avoid paper jamming or misalignment on the scanner’s surface). As a consequence, the process was time-consuming and prone to errors, which required additional manual processing.

To address these problems, we used NI LabVIEW and LabVIEW PDA Module to develop an automated questionnaire that was implemented using a touch screen interface.

Building a LabVIEW-Based System

We chose LabVIEW to create the questionnaires because of its ease of use, the availability of state machine architecture, report generation, and dynamic graphical interfaces.

We use the state machine extensively for code reuse, reconfiguration, and easy of maintenance We can execute the program conditionally based on particpants’ responses through the state machine and logic of LabVIEW. The participants respond only to relevant questions, thus reducing the apparent size of the questionnaire.

We can obtain data from sketches by bringing the sketches into LabVIEW and using Boolean buttons for recording participant responses. By providing a “Go Back” button, the participant can change his or her response.

In addition, using extensive LabVIEW capabilities, we can present animated GIF and movie files to the participant for better understanding of the questions. Also, by immediately comparing responses to related questions, we can assess the particpants’ responses in real time with the computerized approach, allowing them to reassess and eliminate inconsistent responses before proceeding. In addition, we can highlight or eliminate missing data. The data entry process is automated, hence, decreasing the time associated with it. As the participant completes the questionnaire, the sub VIs are automatically set to print the desired screen shots of the participants’ responses for record keeping and validation purposes.

Using the LabVIEW PDA Module, we have also developed a PDA version of the automated questionnaire. Integrating such with PDA data acquisition and wireless capabilities, we have the most economical, portable, and robust data collection systems available for field testing.

Creating a Smooth, Accurate Process

Compared to the use of lengthy paper questionnaires, the computerized approach reduces the potential frustration that the participant may otherwise experience, decreases the amount of time required to obtain the information, markedly reduces the amount of time required to process and reduce the data and increases accuracy. Clearly, our development and implementation of a LabVIEW-based questionnaire presented on a touch screen interface has markedly improved all aspects of our process.

For more information, contact:

Kiran Kumar V. Kunderu

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

1095 Willowdale Rd.

Morgantown, WV 26505

Tel: (304) 285-6168

Fax: (304) 285-6265

E-mail: klk7@cdc.gov

 

 

 

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