NIPO Data Entry is especially developed to be fast and easy to use for manually entering data from paper questionnaires. Data entered through NIPO Data Entry is stored in an identical format to data from other NIPO Software interviewing methods.
Time savingTo ensure a high number of key-strokes per minute, the data typist can complete most of data entry using only the numerical keypad. Audible alerts indicate problems, such as the input of a disallowed number. This allows the data typist to spend most of their time looking at the paper questionnaires rather than at the computer screen. The current question and question ID are displayed together with the previous questions, such that the data typist can visually check the history of answers where needed. Routing of the questionnaire can be switched on and off at any point.
Increased accuracy with double punchingTo further increase accuracy, NIPO Data Entry offers double-punch functionality. Using the double-(or triple) punch technique, the chance of storing errors in the data is greatly reduced. The double-punch procedure involves two data typists inputting the same questionnaire data. The second data typist receives a notification if their input does not match that of the first. On the basis of 5,000 key strokes an hour, and one error in a 1,000 keystrokes, a data typist will make about 5 errors per hour, on average. Using the double punch technique this will be reduced to 1 error in 1,000,000, or 0.005 errors per hour.
Cost effectiveNIPO Data Entry is available separately or as part of the NIPO Fieldwork System for CATI Interviewing, meaning that CATI interviewer licenses can be used simultaneously as data entry workstations, at no extra charge.