Data editing and coding

Introduction.

There are different steps to be followed in the organisation of the data. After the collection of the data, the method of converting raw data into meaningful statement includes data organisation, which is interpretation and summarization of data. In the synthesis of data editing and data coding are the most important steps to be carried out in data organisation.

[I] Data editing.

Data editing is the process of examining the collected raw data, especially in surveys to detect errors and omissions and to correct these when possible is known as data editing. It is done to assure that the data are accurate and consistent with other facts gathering. During the process of the data editing, the information gathered during data collection may lack uniformity. Therefore, it is essential to examine the collected raw data to detect errors and to correct them.

This process involves a careful scrutiny of the complete questioner and schedules. Editing also needs that data are relevant and appropriate and errors are modified. In the process of data editing, data collected through questioner and schedules may have answers which may not be ticked at proper places or some questions may be left unanswered. Sometimes, information may be given in a form which needs reconstruction in a category designed for analysis. At that time editing of data is necessary to step.

There are two types of data regarding the stages at which editing should be done.

They are as follows.

1. Field editing.
2. Central editing.

1. Field editing.

It is a type of data editing in which the investigator reviews the reporting forms of respondent’s to complete the what might have been written in abbreviated and illegible form at the time of recording. This type of editing is important because individuals writing styles often can be difficult for other to understand. This sort of editing should be done immediately after the interview, preferably on the very day or on the next day. The investigator must be careful while editing of data not to be misguided by his own views, biases, perceptions, and guess work. He must not correct errors of ommissions by simply guessing what the respondents would have said. So, field editing is an is important steps.

2. Central editing.

Central editing is also known as office editing. Central editing type of data takes place when all forms or schedules have been completed and returned to the office. In central editing, single editors are engaged. In this type of editing, editors may correct the obvious errors such as an entry in the wrong place, entry recorded, in months when it should have been recorded in weeks and like. The editor can sometimes, determine the proper answer by reviewing the other information in the schedules in case of inappropriate on missing replies. At times the respondents can be contracted for classification. All the wrong replies, which are quite obvious, must be dropped from the final results, especially in the text of mail surveys. The some of the important points to be paid attention by editors while performing their work are listed in following points below.

1. During data editing, the editor should make entries on the form in some distinctive colour and that too in a standardised form.
2. They should draw a single line while crossing out an original entry for one reason or another.
3. The instructions given to the interviewer and coders to be known by editors.
4. During data editing, the editor's initials and the date of editing should be placed in each and every completed form or schedules.
5. The editors should initial all answers which they change or supply.

[II] Data coding.

Data coding is the process of assigning or other symbols to answers so that respondents can be put into a limited number of categories or classes Coding is done by using a code book, code sheet, and a computer card. Coding is done on the basis of instructions given in the codebook. The code book gives a numerical code for each variable. Hence, coding refers to the translating answers into numerical values or assigning numbers to the various categories of a variable that is to be used in the data analysis.

Data coding should be appropriate to the research problem under consideration. They must also possess the characteristics of exhaustiveness (I,e there must be a class for every data item). Data coding should be such that a specific answer can be placed in one and only one cell in a given category set. Every such class should be defined in terms of only one concept.

During the process of data coding, the several replies may be reduced to a small number of classes which contain the critical information required for analysis. Due to which this type of coding has been necessary for efficient analysis. Codes are assigned before going to the field while constructing the questioner/ schedule. For this coding, decisions are usually taken at the designing stage of the questioner. This makes it possible to precede the questionnaire choices and which in turn is helpful for computer tabulation as one can straight-forward keypunch from the original questionnaire. But some standard methods are employed in a case of manual coding.i,e by hands. One such standard method is to code in the margins with a coloured pencil. The other methods are to translate the data from the questioner to a coding sheets.They must also possess the characteristics of exhaustiveness (I,e there must be a class for every data item).

Reference

Kerlinger, F.N. Foundation of Behavioural Research. New Delhi: Surjeet Publication, 2000.

Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology. India: Vishwa Prakashan, 1990.

Singh, M.L. and J.M Singh. Understanding Research Methodology. 1998.

Singh, Mrigendra Lal. Understanding Research Methodology. Nepal: National Book centre, 2013.