What is a Processing error?
- Content Type:
- Glossary
Processing error Definition
Error that results from incorrect transfer of information from the data collection document to the computer.
What is a processing error in marketing research?A processing error refers to a mistake or inaccuracy that occurs during the handling, coding, entry or analysis of data collected in a marketing research study. These errors can distort findings and compromise data integrity.
What are the key aspects of processing errors in marketing research?
- Occur during data coding, entry, cleaning or analysis.
- Can be mechanical (e.g., software bugs) or human (e.g., miscoding).
- Affect data accuracy and reliability.
- Often preventable with quality control processes.
- May go unnoticed without systematic checks.
Why are processing errors important to understand in market research?
Identifying and correcting processing errors is essential to ensuring that the conclusions drawn from research are valid. Even small errors can lead to misleading insights, faulty business decisions or damage to client trust.
Who relies on understanding processing errors in marketing research?
- Data analysts and statisticians.
- Survey programmers and coders.
- Quality assurance teams.
- Market research vendors and platforms.
- Clients relying on data-driven decisions.
How do market researchers monitor processing errors?
Market researchers monitor for processing errors throughout the research workflow to maintain the integrity of their findings. This includes implementing double-entry verification for manually entered data, running validation scripts to catch inconsistencies and using audit trails to trace anomalies. When errors are found – such as an incorrect variable label or data file misalignment – they are documented and corrected before analysis. Minimizing processing errors helps ensure the accuracy of final reports and builds confidence in the decisions that follow from research insights.