NGO & Project Management Technology · Intermediate level

Intermediate level · Module 5: Data Analysis for M&E · Lesson 1 of 3

Cleaning Survey Data

Make data reliable before analysing it.

In this lesson you will

  • Check data for errors
  • Document cleaning

Key concepts

duplicatesmissing valuesoutlierscleaning log

The lesson

Check for duplicate records, missing answers, impossible values and inconsistent spellings.

Fix what can be confirmed, flag what cannot and never invent data.

Record every change in a cleaning log.

Step by step

  1. Check for duplicates.
  2. Find missing and impossible values.
  3. Fix or flag.
  4. Log changes.

Practice activity

Clean the provided survey data.

Expected result: A clean data set with a cleaning log.

Check your understanding

  1. What should you do with values that cannot be confirmed?

    Show answer

    Flag them; never invent data.

  2. Why keep a cleaning log?

    Show answer

    So changes can be checked and repeated.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.