Manual Data Capture – Key Entry

1. Manual Data Capture – Key Entry UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

2. Key Entry data capture To Forms To Data Capture Data File UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

3. Key Entry – Main characteristics • Computer-assisted keyboard data entry usually uses personal computer data entry programs with built-in logical controls. • Some of the tasks accomplished by the programs are: • Verifying that EA codes are valid and copying them automatically from one record to the next; • Assigning a number to each person in a household automatically and to each household within an EA; • Switching record types automatically if required; • Checking that variable values are always within pre-determined ranges; • Skipping fields if the logic indicates doing so; • Supporting keyboard verification of the information entered earlier; • Generating summary statistics for the operator and the batch. UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

4. Key Entry – Main characteristics • Coding complex classifications (occupation, industry, education) can be included in a computer-assisted keyboard data entry application, • Or a clerical process prior to keying to assign the classification class to be key entered. • In order not to delay the data capture task, data entry applications should limit checking to problems that are: • Either very serious (for example, wrong EA code), • Or likely to be caused by a simple misread or key entry mistake. • More sophisticated checking is deferred until the editing stage. UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

5. Key Entry – Main characteristics • This method requires relatively simple software systems (if complex coding not included) • Requires many more staff than automated data capture method • More elapsed time to complete. UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

6. Key Entry – Elements for decision • Decision to use manual entry versus automated entry may take into account: • Timetable requirements • Relativities between staff and hardware costs. • Possibility to implement more sophisticated technology • Where staff costs are low and computing infrastructure is moderate, keyed entry may be the optimal method. UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

7. Key Entry – Software • Basic key entry programmes: • Used in-house or outsourced • Software packages: • CsPro • ... • User specific applications: • Developed in-house or outsourced UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008

8. Thank You UNSD-UNESCAP Regional Workshop on Census Data Processing: Contemporary technologies for data capture, methodology and practice of data editing, documentation and archiving Bangkok, Thailand, 15-19 September 2008