Training needs analysis, audits for quality control and multichoice examinations are some of the routine tasks of a training and human resource department. These time consuming exercises have all created a need for a software tool that can  simplify the process of designing questionnaires, collecting data and analysing it effectively. Keypoint, from Cambridge Software Publishing, makes it easy for non-specialists to generate and implement professional surveys inhouse.

Mr Doug Proctor of the Institute of Naval Medicine uses Keypoint to create multiple choice examinations for the Naval Medical Branch.

"I provide the school at the Institute with training advice and use Keypoint to create validation questionnaires. Trainees are evaluated at 6 month and 2 year intervals after attending the course. The audit takes the form of a multiple choice questionnaire, with some longer questions that require text based comments."

"I reuse many of the forms by modifying the questions. Keypoint is very good for this, as the properties for the questions can be altered in a separate window and the question in the layout is automatically updated. A library of questionnaire formats - multiple choice, tick boxes, tables - can be accessed reducing the time taken to create a new form."

"Keypoint provides a powerful design facility for creating the questionnaire. All the questions are self contained 'objects' which can be moved about the page as required. Number validation, which fixes the legal parameters for each question, reduces the amount of 'dirty data."

" Keypoint also enables the same questionnaire to be printed, sent as an e-mail or hosted on the web.  Doug Proctor believes this has potential for distance learning.  'The advantage of a web or e-mail survey is that the response can be automatically entered into the database without any need to re-key the information reducing both time wasted and the number of errors.