[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-289707-105":59,"doc-detail-289707-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","assessing-survey-data","Assessing Survey Data","","Guidance on evaluating the validity of survey data and the risks posed to data integrity. Covers how validity is influenced by data type (primary vs. secondary), completeness, availability of needed items, and potential biases, errors, or systemic inaccuracies from collection, manipulation, or presentation. Explains how to assess questionnaire quality, including clear definitions, recall time periods, balanced wording, ordering limits, and suitability to the administration mode. Discusses how dataset age affects usefulness, and how to consider collection methods that may introduce bias.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/assessing-survey-data/289707/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/assessing-survey-data/289707.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Blaney","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-05","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What makes survey data valid for representing real-world conditions?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Validity depends on whether the data accurately reflect what is happening in the real world, and on the processes used to create, manipulate, or present the data. It is affected by factors such as data type, completeness, and potential biases or systemic inaccuracies.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How should primary and secondary survey data be evaluated differently?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Primary data come from directly asking questions or conducting trials, while secondary data are derived from others’ research through collating results. When using secondary data, it is important to assess which research questions the data actually answer and whether the dataset fits the intended purpose.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"Why does the age of a dataset matter when assessing survey results?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Older data may no longer reflect current conditions, while very recent data may not support inferences about events far in the past. Users should use the most relevant dataset version for the research period and update sources to the latest available data when validity is affected.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},289707,1789636553,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":39,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":130,"read_time":46,"preview_page_count":4},1236954677761,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","Assessing survey data  \nIntroduction  \nThis paper presents factors that impact on the validity of survey data. That is, the extent to which survey data accurately reflect what is happening in the real world—in local communities, regions or across the state. This information can be used when planning a survey or assessing results from others’surveys and in determining whether and how survey data can be used.  \nThere are a number of factors which impact on validity, including the type of data—whether they’re from a primary or secondary source; the data items available; whether or not the data are complete; the age of the data; and whether there are biases, errors or systemic inaccuracies due to the processes used in the creation, manipulation or presentation of data.  \nIt is important to consider these issues and evaluate how much of a risk they might pose to the integrity of the data. Datasets are rarely, if ever, perfect; however it is helpful to develop an awareness of their limitations in order to become an informed user.  \nTypes of data and items available  \nPrimary data are generated by directly asking questions, e.g. surveys, or conducting trials and collating results. This can be in the form of quantitative or qualitative research. Primary data are generally collected to serve a specific need or purpose. ‘Secondary data’ refers to information derived from the findings from others’research. Analysis of secondary data sources may include collating results of others’ research from books, reports or the internet. Selections or summaries are taken from the research to support any conclusions. When using secondary data, it is important to assess what research questions the data actually answer. Unless designed specifically for purpose, it is highly unlikely that any one dataset will answer every question of interest.  \nIt is important to be clear about the limitations of the data and what items are available—sometimes the data required to answer a specific research question are simply not available.  \nAge of data  \nThe age of a dataset should always be taken into account. Are the data twenty years old? If so, what might have changed since they were collected? Conversely, if the data are very recent (e.g. collected in the last three months), they are unlikely to be useful in making inferences about events which happened twenty years ago. Some datasets (such as those available through the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office or the Australian Bureau of Statistics) are regularly updated. Data users should maintain links with the source site for these datasets, to ensure that data being used are the most recent version available.  \nAlways use the version of a dataset that is most relevant to the period of time related to the research question. Eventually, all data will become old and potentially—depending on the nature of the dataset—out of date. If the data available are so out of date as to be likely to impact on the validity of the research, then it may be necessary to collect new data.  \nBiases and errors  \nWhen assessing data for bias or error it is important to consider the various survey processes and methods used. This includes whether the questionnaire has been appropriately designed and worded, the data  \ncollection method, the number and type of people included in the survey sample and whether the data represent the target population of interest.  \nQuestionnaire  \nGood questionnaire design is essential. If the questionnaire is poorly worded, it is likely that the data will be problematic. Refer to the questionnair to check that:  \n• jargon or technical terms have been clearly defined. Failure to do so can lead to respondents interpreting terms differently, rendering their answers non-comparable.  \n• time periods for question recall are reasonable. For example, asking people how many times they have visited a doctor in the last three months is much more likely to yield accurate results than asking how many times t","cbCaidwqJ1SGV2MI","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaidwqJ1SGV2MI","pdf",702964,"English","# Introduction\n# Types of data and items available\n## Primary vs. secondary data\n# Age of data\n# Biases and errors\n## Questionnaire\n## Method of collection","[{\"question\":\"What makes survey data valid for representing real-world conditions?\",\"answer\":\"Validity depends on whether the data accurately reflect what is happening in the real world, and on the processes used to create, manipulate, or present the data. It is affected by factors such as data type, completeness, and potential biases or systemic inaccuracies.\"},{\"question\":\"How should primary and secondary survey data be evaluated differently?\",\"answer\":\"Primary data come from directly asking questions or conducting trials, while secondary data are derived from others’ research through collating results. When using secondary data, it is important to assess which research questions the data actually answer and whether the dataset fits the intended purpose.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does the age of a dataset matter when assessing survey results?\",\"answer\":\"Older data may no longer reflect current conditions, while very recent data may not support inferences about events far in the past. Users should use the most relevant dataset version for the research period and update sources to the latest available data when validity is affected.\"}]","Assessing Survey Data | PDF"]