1. Accuracy of data input is important. What method of data output would be best for each situation (explain why)?
The first situation involves the use of printed questionnaires. Printed questionnaires create problems for two reasons. First, such questionnaires are completed by respondents (usually by written notation). Second, the responses to such questionnaires must be read, transcribed, and entered into a digital analysis system. Hand-entered notations are difficult to read. The process of reading, transcribing, and entering data into a digital analysis system creates several opportunities for error. A scanning device coupled with optical mark recognition (OMR) software is the best method to assure accuracy when entering data from printed questionnaires. OMR accuracy can suffer if respondents do not exercise care in completing the forms (Stair & Reynolds, 2003, p. 60).
The second situation involves the use of a telephone survey. The best data input method is to record the responses of the interviewee with a voice recognition device and voice recognition software that stores the information directly on to a computer hard disk. This approach assures accuracy by eliminating the potential for human recording errors. Translation errors may occur, however, if the voice recognition software is not adjusted for the speech of the interviewees (Stair & Reynolds, 2003, p. 59).
The third situation involves the use of bank checks. A system was developed especially for the digital processing of bank checks. The system involves encoding the essential information related to a check (account, bank, check number, and so forth) on checks, as well as optical reading and digitally encoding additional information (monetary amount, as an example) on the check once used. The Best output device to collect, enter, and store data from bank checks, thus, is the device developed for the process - a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR...