Data Input Methods

Data Input Methods

Thomas Beltrametti

CIS / 207

Jan. 12, 2012

Charles Jacks

The accuracy of data is important. In order for accurate and accessible data, the IT world strives to progress the advancement in all areas of data including: input methods, storage, accessibility, and accuracy. The content of this paper will consist of answers that will identify the best method of data input in regards to the predetermined situations, and why.

Printed Questionnaires

The best input method for this situation is the keyboard input method. For reasons of finding the best solution, we look at the potential problems with several types of input methods. The keyboard input method matches well with printed questionnaires because this situation will always require manual human input. With the keyboard method, it is universal and fairly familiar to all levels of experience. This means personnel salaries can remain at entry level rates which in return saves money from the budget. Benefits of this method include: reduction of personnel needed, accurate input method (with the exception of questionnaires that may be unreadable), and the fact that most data recorded from printed questionnaires primarily include numbers and letters only(Nickerson, 2012).

Telephone Survey

Topic and format of the telephone survey determines the appropriate method to utilize for data input. This situation contains ‘level of measurement’ surveys, which incorporate one of the four scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) as the answer. On the other hand, a telephone survey will ask an open ended question for the purpose of receiving a short description from the responder in his own words. These are two examples that share survey type but differ in input method used(Babbie E., 2004).

My example using the levels of measurement format best matches the keypad input method. Predetermined answers in a multiple choice format will allow the respondent to select the...