PRC Data Quality & Validation 2

Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'data cleaning' in the research process?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and correcting errors, inconsistencies, and outliers in a dataset prior to analysis

Answer

Removing all open-ended responses before analysis

Answer

Deleting records from underrepresented demographic groups

Answer

Applying sampling weights to correct for design effects

Question 2

A researcher discovers that 5% of survey records in a dataset are exact duplicates. The most appropriate corrective action is to:

Accepted Answer

Remove duplicate records, keeping only one instance per unique respondent

Answer

Average the responses from duplicate records before analysis

Answer

Retain all duplicate records to maximize sample size

Answer

Flag duplicates with a weight of 0.5 each

Question 3

Which of the following is a common method for handling missing data that involves predicting missing values based on other variables in the dataset?

Accepted Answer

Multiple imputation

Answer

Listwise deletion

Answer

Pairwise deletion

Answer

Mean substitution

Question 4

In data validation, a 'range check' ensures that:

Accepted Answer

Numeric values fall within predefined acceptable boundaries

Answer

All respondents fall within the target demographic

Answer

The survey was completed within the specified fieldwork dates

Answer

Response distributions match expected population parameters

Question 5

The practice of verifying that a percentage distribution of responses closely mirrors known population benchmarks is called:

Accepted Answer

Benchmarking or external validation

Answer

Internal consistency checking

Answer

Demographic calibration validation

Answer

Respondent profiling

Question 6

Which of the following quality indicators would MOST directly reveal that an online panel has a problem with professional survey takers ('professional respondents')?

Accepted Answer

Respondents claiming membership in implausibly many product categories or surveys

Answer

High incidence rate for the screening criteria

Answer

A break-off rate above 20%

Answer

Low item non-response on attitudinal scales

Question 7

What is the primary benefit of conducting a pilot test or soft launch of a survey before full-scale fielding?

Accepted Answer

It allows researchers to identify data quality issues, technical errors, and question problems before full deployment

Answer

It permanently locks in the final questionnaire so no further changes can be made

Answer

It generates a representative sample that can be merged with the main study data

Answer

It replaces the need for respondent validation checks during the main study