Why would it be important to record data accurately as it is being collected?

Answer 1

Data should be recorded as soon as possible after collection because doing so will help to ensure that the data collected is actually the data recorded. If you rely on your memory and do not record the data until some time after collection, it could be that you don't acurately recall the full details of the original data and so the end data can easily be flawed.

There are many ways to check if data is being properly collected.

Experiments done in a laboratory setting may require hand written notes on observations. These observations should be written in a bound notebook, that belongs to the researcher. The time and date of the observations should be noted. The reason to do this immediately is so that the observations are fresh in the researcher's mind.

Sometimes data is collected on paper and then entered into the computer. This should be done as soon as possible and checked very carefully. Let say we are conducting interviews to collect data. The information is immediately recorded usually on a special form, and then checked to see if all the necessary information is obtained.

If we delay in recording data, some of it can be misplaced. Delays may be caused because we don't have the right tools (pen, paper, or laptop computer) to record data. If some of the data is missing, then the reliability of the study may be questioned.

Some data is automatically collected by computers. This can greatly enhance the reliability of the data because it eliminates the human error, and the data can immediately be seen by everyone that has access to the computer.

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Answer 2

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