Question Regarding Unusual Timestamp Values

Question

Hi,

My question regards data collection times, specifically variables such as the time when the interview started (STARTED) and the time when the data was most recently updated (LASTDATA).

Is it possible that these variables can be affected by, for example, the device settings of the person responding to the survey? I am asking because I have noticed some unusual timestamps in these variables that seem illogical given my study design. In some cases, the recorded times appear incorrect, as they suggest responses were submitted at times when the QR codes for accessing the survey should not have been physically available.

I have already taken GMT/time zone differences into account, so the issue does not seem to be explained by that.

If not device settings, are there any other known factors that could influence these timestamp values or cause them to appear incorrect? Or can I generally rely on these timestamps as accurate, meaning that participants may indeed have accessed and completed the survey at these unusual times?

Thank you for your guidance

Best regards

Answer 1

The timestamps for STARTED and LASTDATA are recorded exclusively by the server, and it will always report them in the time zone that you configured in the project settings. The device does not affect the timestamp.

they suggest responses were submitted at times when the QR codes for accessing the survey should not have been physically available.

Yould it be that someone scanned the code, left the page open in the browser, and started the questionnaire later, at home?

If STARTED says that an interview was started at some unexpected time, the interview was mostly likely actually started at an unexpected time.