ERRORS IN DATA COLLECTION

From our discussion so far, it can be argued that every stage of the survey is a potential source of error.
In planning a survey therefore, one must try to anticipate the possible sources of errors and then take
appropriate precautions to minimize them.

The two prominent types of errors are:

i.Sampling errors

ii.Response errors.

Although the sampling errors can be kept under control and estimated, this is not always the case with
the response errors. We are therefore going to concentrate on the response errors. In discussing
response errors, it should be remembered that an interview is an interaction between two persons who
may affect each other in various ways.

Sources of Response Errors

Errors Arising from the Interviewer:

(a) Characteristics of the Interviewer: The sex, education and social class of the interviewer might
influence the answers obtained from the respondent. This may be either because of the impression on
the respondent, the way the questions are asked, or perhaps respondents might give answers more
wittingly and differently to different interviewers.

(b) Opinions of Interviewers: An interviewer's strong opinion on a particular topic may influence the way
the questions are asked and the answers recorded.

(c) Interviewers Expectation: Expectation biases usually arise from expectation errors because the
interviewer may interpret answers in the light of her expectations.

Errors Arising from the Respondent:

The respondent may give an answer other than the correct one based on one of the following:
(a) Lack of knowledge to give the correct answer

(b) His memory may place him false

(c) It could be because he misunderstands the question(s)

(d) Perhaps, he does not wish to give the correct answer(unwillingness).

Although such errors arise from the respondent the root cause is essentially that of the interaction
between the interviewer and the respondent.

Errors Relating to the Conditions of the Survey

Both the errors due to the interviewer and those arising from the respondents are closely dependent on
the other conditions of the survey.

Some of such conditions are:

(a) Length of the Questionnaire: Lengthy questionnaire demoralizes the respondent as well as the
interviewer.

(b) Order of the Questions: Earlier questions may set the tone of the interview and a general frame of
reference for later questions. The order of the questions can thus affect the answers obtained.

(c) Question Content:

Memory questions have considerable errors.

(d) Question Wording: Leading words, technical terms, vague words and phrases may lead to errors.

(e) Interviewer's Instructions: This refers to the interviewer's ability of interpreting the given
instructions.

Data Collection

(f) Designated Respondent:When the designated respondent does not answer the questions.

(g) Interest in the Survey: Accuracy and willing interest in

subject of the survey.

(h) Question structure.

(i) Place of interview

(j). Sponsorship.

Detection of Errors

The following can help detect errors

i.Record Checks: Individual validity checks, and sometimes checks against records or documents of some
sort are useful in checking the accuracy of data supplied.

ii.Consistency Checks: Record checks are useful if one has reasons to believe that the records are more
accurate than the survey Answers.

However, a common type of consistency check is to ask for the same information in two or more ways.
For example, when one was born and later how old one is.

iii.Re-interviewing: The most natural way of checking on the accuracy of the measurement is to repeat
it. This may take the form of post enumeration survey.