If your survey is ready to be entered, it should be in legible format that is easily followed from left to right or top to bottom. All coding of responses should be done by the research person and in a different color ink OR use coding sheets that ACS has available for use. We DO NOT key letters. When there is an open ended question and you want the answers or responses analyzed, you need to code that question and provide us with a code sheet of the answers. If no response is given for a question, it will be keyed as a zero, unless you specify a numeric value for blank responses.
Blanks equal zero.
It is highly recommended that each survey or individual record is identified with some identification number. If used, it should be coded on the top of the first page starting with one. Try to keep your survey well spaced. If things are too close together, the person answering the survey might have a problem writing small or circling things. It is much easier to key if it is spaced apart.