Quality & Methodologies

Quality as a contractual standard, not a talking point.

We publish our quality standards so clients can hold us to them. Every engagement produces a QC trail: a documented record of every decision from instrument design to data handoff.

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Published standards

Six things we contractualise.

These are written into our SOWs and measurable at delivery.

01

15% back-checks minimum.

Field supervisors independently re-interview minimum 15% of respondents. Documented before data is cleaned.

02

GPS-stamped by default.

Every CAPI interview is GPS-stamped at point of data capture. Location outliers trigger automatic review.

03

Every cleaning decision logged.

Full cleaning log with every value changed and every record dropped, with the analyst's rationale.

04

Real-time client dashboard.

Clients see daily field progress against targets. No surprises at close of data collection.

05

Paradata with every dataset.

Interview timing, interviewer ID, device ID, and response pattern data accompany every clean dataset.

06

Fraud detection.

Every engagement includes guaranteed data integrity standards, with rigorous fraud detection and removal built into our methodology.

The QC trail

Seven checkpoints. All documented.

Each step produces a documented output you can show an auditor, a donor, or an IRB.

Step 01

Instrument Review & Cognitive Testing

Cognitive testing with 8–12 respondents. Ambiguous items flagged and revised before translation.

OutputCognitive testing report · Revised instrument
Step 02

Enumerator Training & Certification

2-day minimum protocol training, standardised assessment. Scores retained for audit.

OutputTraining record · Assessment scores · Certification list
Step 03

Pilot & Pre-Field Validation

Full pilot with 30–50 respondents outside study sample. Instrument locked only after sign-off.

OutputPilot summary · Pre-field sign-off memo
Step 04

Real-Time Field Monitoring

Daily progress tracked on live dashboard. GPS validation and response time monitoring continuous.

OutputDaily field reports · GPS logs · Flag register
Step 05

Back-Checks (min. 15%)

Independent re-interviews. Discrepancies documented. Flagged interviews reviewed before inclusion.

OutputBack-check results · Discrepancy log
Step 06

Data Cleaning & Validation

Logic checks, range validation, duplicate detection. Every cleaning decision documented.

OutputClean dataset · Cleaning log · QC flag report · Paradata
Step 07

Data Handoff & Quality Memo

Final package with quality memo summarising QC outcomes, known limitations, and reporting caveats.

OutputFinal dataset · Data quality memo · Full QC package

Want to see our QC documentation before you commission?

Request our standards pack →