Data Preparation and Database Development
We are experts at designing data handling systems and procedures. We maintain a staff of highly experienced data handling supervisors who design and implement careful quality control procedures on all of our coding efforts. In consultation with the client, our staff develops the coding schemes for classifying original data from source documents into codes for subsequent computerized analysis. Our staff has considerable experience in the selection, development, and use of various coding schemes. In selecting the appropriate coding scheme, we consider such factors as level of detail required, planned use of the data for analytic purposes, ease of use, and consistency. When pilot studies are conducted, provisional coding schemes are tested and revised based on findings from the pilot test and on changes made to the questionnaire. Where possible, we use existing schemes, since often their problems have been resolved during previous studies.
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