DATA CONTROL
There are data quality control mechanisms that we employ to ensure that the obtained data is accurate and clean. These are divided into three categories: passive controls, simultaneous controls, and post-field controls.
Software based data controls
The rules regarding the functioning of the survey are embedded into the software used for conducting it. These rules help prevent logical and user-induced errors during the filling out of the survey. The software guides the surveyors in terms of how the questions should be asked or skipped, and indicates irrelevant or invalid answer options for a question, prompting the surveyors, when necessary, with the help of logical comparisons.
Simultaneous controls
There are three components of Simultaneous controls. The first is to monitor the work on site. The Field Coordinator oversees the entire field stage, provincial coordinators monitor the work in their respective provinces, and supervisors directly supervise the interviewers.
The second component is conducted at the central office. Here, the IP addresses, durations, and locations of the surveys are checked, and intervention is made in case of inconsistencies.
In addition to these controls, at least 20% of the surveys carried out by each interviewer involved in the project will be verified through a telephone call. In this phase, it is checked whether the survey was carried out with a participant, who carried it out, how long it lasted and whether the intended control questions were asked.
Post-field controls
Third-stage controls are carried out by examining completed surveys. During these controls, the surveys are subjected to a detailed examination based on the questions and the interviewers. In addition, internal consistency checks are carried out. Where available, external consistency checks are carried out by comparing them with similar research.