Retain the form version, collection window, repeat relationships and choice lists with the export. A field renamed halfway through collection can appear missing even when its information exists under an earlier name.
Keep the form context
Retain the form version, collection window, repeat relationships and choice lists with the export. A field renamed halfway through collection can appear missing even when its information exists under an earlier name.
Treat metadata as context
Timing, coordinates, device patterns and concentrated submissions can prioritise review. Shared facilities, intermittent connectivity and delayed sync can produce unusual but legitimate patterns. Use only metadata collected lawfully for a relevant purpose.
Worked example: short interviews
Illustrative example: a short duration flag occurs mostly in records with valid skip paths. Before escalating, compare duration within similar pathways and confirm the available timestamps. A threshold without this context can punish legitimate respondents or enumerators.
Original signal review sheet
Use Record reference | Form version | Rule and threshold | Observed evidence | Plausible benign explanation | Reviewer | Decision/reason | Correction owner. Keep references private; public proof should show aggregate findings and methodological limits.
Close the loop
Return actionable changes to the form or field process and retain the disposition. Separate confirmed data errors from unresolved signals. Reporting should not count a flag as an established incident or claim that a clean screen proves authenticity.
Review this research decision
We can review your actual form, dataset and reporting requirement, then scope the smallest service that solves the risk.
Explore the service ↗