The mail data is checked three times. First there is a visual check of the forms being scanned. Next, the scanner itself rejects unacceptable forms. Finally, the database program lists any surveys that are incomplete or have inconsistent answers. Since the survey center and the CATI system do most of their own data verification, the clean data is sent directly to the central client server database for storage.
Clean data is then ready to be used to generate expert system progress reports.
The Survey Center has 30 dedicated computers telephone interviewing cubicles, and approximately 90 experienced part-time survey interviewers. The SMS event scheduler provides real time notification to survey staff of all surveys that need to be verified, schedules the call backs and production of intervention reports, and provides database lists of surveys that were not returned and therefore must be completed by phone. Computerized project management reports have been developed that directly access the centralized project databases, providing automated daily project status statistics, which are routinely reviewed to monitor project progress. Data Entry and Storage . Multiple copies of all project databases are stored in at least two different locations at all times throughout the project to prevent accidental data loss.