Robust Research Infrastructure, from the Field to the Final Data
Pillar 1: Data Collection
IJS field operations are run by a structured and experienced team. At the office level, the team is led by an Operation Manager, supported by a Senior Project Manager and Project Management Executives who ensure every project meets our standards. In the field, we rely on a network of 34 area coordinators spread across all provinces of Indonesia, supported by 56 active Team Leaders and more than 600 trained interviewers.
To support mobility and data collection accuracy, IJS owns more than 50 tablets, each at least 8 inches in size, ready for CAPI-based interviews across all operational areas.
Pillar 2: Data Processing
The IJS data processing team works to strict standards and is supported by professional research software. Data processing is carried out by an experienced team of coders under the coordination of an Assistant Data Processing Manager. To ensure accuracy and consistency, we use QPS for structured data entry, Dooblo for CAPI-based data collection, and SPSS for more in-depth multivariate analysis.
Pillar 3: Quality Control
Quality control at IJS is not a mere formality — it is a layer of data protection that we apply systematically at every stage. During the data collection phase, at least 5% of interviews are directly witnessed by Team Leaders in the field, while 30% are verified by an independent QC team through visits or phone confirmation. All audio recordings are reviewed 100%, and 30% of them are also accompanied by video verification managed through MS Projects.
During the data processing phase, all data goes through an automated cleansing program to detect inconsistencies. At the client’s request, we also offer a double-blind entry method as an additional verification layer.
Data Management Flow
Every piece of data entering the IJS system goes through a standardized, documented flow. The process starts with interviews in the field — through either CAPI or PAPI — which are monitored directly by Supervisors to ensure quotas are met. In parallel, an external QC team independently verifies the fieldwork process.
Once the data is received, the data processing team performs data entry, followed by QC and feedback, cleansing, checking, coding, and finally tabulation. Every stage has a clearly assigned owner — no data moves to the next stage without passing verification at the previous one.
QC Flow: Qualitative Research
For qualitative research such as FGDs and IDIs, quality control begins well before the session takes place. All interviewers must attend a briefing before going into the field. Once respondent contacts are obtained, the team can carry out additional verification through social media when necessary.
During and after the session, photo documentation is mandatory as proof of execution, and callbacks are made to reconfirm respondent participation. The final stage is validating that each respondent’s profile matches the established screening criteria. If a mismatch is found, the data is disqualified and replaced to protect the integrity of the research results.
QC Flow: Quantitative Research
QC standards for quantitative research — covering F2F, CATI, and CAPI methods — are designed to be stricter, with additional technology-based verification layers. Besides the mandatory briefing and contact verification, the GPS coordinates of every interview point are recorded to ensure interviews actually take place at the correct locations.
At least 30% of each interview method is directly witnessed or verified on the spot by the QC team. All audio recordings are re-reviewed, supported by photo documentation as proof, and followed by callbacks to respondents. A final validation matches respondent profiles against the screening criteria — data that does not match is immediately disqualified.
QC Flow: Mystery Shopper
Mystery Shopper has its own dedicated QC flow, designed to ensure every visit is carried out correctly and thoroughly documented. Before a visit, shoppers must attend a briefing to understand the scenario and the evaluation criteria set by the client.
After the visit, shoppers upload the video recording via Google Drive or hard drive, which is then reviewed by the QC team. The visit data is entered into the system, re-checked by an editor, and validated against the screener before being submitted as final data. If a mismatch is found at any stage, the shopper must revisit the same location.