Group Analytic Contexts, Issue 77, September 2017

136 Group-Analytic Society International - Contexts
However, it’s astonishing how easily mistakes can be made
through typing errors in this process. You’d be surprised how many
research papers won’t be wrong due to scientific flaws (poor research
design, inappropriate statistics) but because of typing mistakes. These,
and other errors can be easily avoided or rectified.
Here’s a 10-item list how to avoid ‘the avoidable’ during data
collection, entry, analysis, and errors made during manuscript
preparation:
1. Setting up procedures for checking data whilst you
collect them (e.g. checking that all questions in
questionnaires are answered).
2. Dating and signing questionnaires before filing them.
3. Transferring data directly by scanning or directly
downloading them into a statistical package/spreadsheet.
4. Entering data twice (double data entry): after data has
been typed into the database, a blank copy of the
database is then made; the data re-entered and the 2
databases are merged to detect inconsistencies.
5. Writing a data entry protocol (specifying rules for
illegible/ambiguous data).
6. Creating log files (rationale and record with dates of all
analyses, names of files, folders and updating these).
7. Checking the final data set for missing data,
inconsistency (are values of variables likely?) and range
(are values of any variable unlikely?).
8. Programming analysis: Writing a programming code, or
getting a kind statistician over a cuppa to help you, to
include automatic output that’s suitable to be imported
into a word processor, because cutting and pasting
individual numbers from software output is a source of
error.
9. Checking every number on your report against the
printout of statistical software when preparing your
manuscript.
10. Double-checking your final copy to avoid errors at the reformatting
stage.
And finally, taking a deep breath when it’s done. If you get your
matrices right, coherence emerges during the process of your research.
When it all comes together, the data creates a new phenomenon, a
‘suprapersonal research matrix’. It’s just like in the group, when