scholarly journals How to Get Better Survey Data More Efficiently

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Mollie J. Cohen ◽  
Zach Warner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Control Processes ◽  
Public Opinion Surveys ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Many

Abstract A key challenge facing many large, in-person public opinion surveys is ensuring that enumerators follow fieldwork protocols. Implementing “quality control” processes can improve data quality and help ensure the representativeness of the final sample. Yet while public opinion researchers have demonstrated the utility of quality control procedures such as audio capture and geo-tracking, there is little research assessing the relative merits of such tools. In this paper, we present new evidence on this question using data from the 2016/17 wave of the AmericasBarometer study. Results from a large classification task demonstrate that a small set of automated and human-coded variables, available across popular survey platforms, can recover the final sample of interviews that results when a full suite of quality control procedures is implemented. Taken as a whole, our results indicate that implementing and automating just a few of the many quality control procedures available can streamline survey researchers’ quality control processes while substantially improving the quality of their data.

scholarly journals Moving a Mountain: The Extraordinary Trajectory of Same-Sex Marriage Approval in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 237802311772765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Rosenfeld
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Gay Rights ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Election Studies

Most public opinion attitudes in the United States are reasonably stable over time. Using data from the General Social Survey and the American National Election Studies, I quantify typical change rates across all attitudes. I quantify the extent to which change in same-sex marriage approval (and liberalization in attitudes toward gay rights in general) are among a small set of rapid changing outliers in surveyed public opinions. No measured public opinion attitude in the United States has changed more and more quickly than same-sex marriage. I use survey data from Newsweek to illustrate the rapid increase in the 1980s and 1990s in Americans who had friends or family who they knew to be gay or lesbian and demonstrate how contact with out-of-the-closet gays and lesbians was influential. I discuss several potential historical and social movement theory explanations for the rapid liberalization of attitudes toward gay rights in the United States, including the surprising influence of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign.

scholarly journals Reproducible and accessible analysis of transposon insertion data at scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Larivière ◽  
Laura Wickham ◽  
Kenneth C. Keiler ◽  
Anton Nekrutenko
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Promoter Sequence ◽  
Read Count ◽  
Transposon Insertion ◽  
Sequence Identification ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Reproducible Analysis ◽  
Using Data

ABSTRACTSignificant progress has been made in advancing and standardizing tools for human genomic and biomedical research, yet the field of next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis for microorganisms (including multiple pathogens) remains fragmented, lacks accessible and reusable tools, is hindered by local computational resource limitations, and does not offer widely accepted standards. One of such “problem areas” is the analysis of Transposon Insertion Sequencing (TIS) data. TIS allows perturbing the entire genome of a microorganism by introducing random insertions of transposon-derived constructs. The impact of the insertions on the survival and growth provides precise information about genes affecting specific phenotypic characteristics. A wide array of tools has been developed to analyze TIS data and among the variety of options available, it is often difficult to identify which one can provide a reliable and reproducible analysis. Here we sought to understand the challenges and propose reliable practices for the analysis of TIS experiments. Using data from two recent TIS studies we have developed a series of workflows that include multiple tools for data de-multiplexing, promoter sequence identification, transposon flank alignment, and read count repartition across the genome. Particular attention was paid to quality control procedures such as the determination of the optimal tool parameters for the analysis and removal of contamination. Our work provides an assessment of the currently available tools for TIS data analysis and offers ready to use workflows that can be invoked by anyone in the world using our public Galaxy platform (https://usegalaxy.org). To lower the entry barriers we have also developed interactive tutorials explaining details of TIS data analysis procedures at https://bit.ly/gxy-tis.ImportanceA wide array of tools has been developed to analyze TIS data and among the variety of options available, it is often difficult to identify which one can provide a reliable and reproducible analysis. Here we sought to understand the challenges and propose reliable practices for the analysis of TIS experiments. Using data from two recent TIS studies we have developed a series of workflows that include multiple tools for data de-multiplexing, promoter sequence identification, transposon flank alignment, and read count repartition across the genome. Particular attention was paid to quality control procedures such as the determination of the optimal tool parameters for the analysis and removal of contamination. Our work democratizes the TIS data analysis by providing open workflows supported by public computational infrastructure.

scholarly journals Intolerant Democrat Syndrome: The Problem of Indonesian Democratic Consolidation

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Saiful Mujani
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Democratic Consolidation ◽  
Political Tolerance ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Public Opinion Surveys ◽  
Study Results ◽  
New Finding ◽  
Scarce Data

Indonesia underwent democratization after more than 20 years (1998–2020), but many studies conclude that the country’s democracy is not consolidated and suffered a setback, at least in the last five years. An increase in political intolerance in society is believed to be the cause of this setback. However, studies on Indonesian political tolerance are biased and thus do not reflect actual conditions of general tolerance. This study offers a new unbiased strategy called “content-controlled measures of political tolerance” in the research on political tolerance. This strategy has been used in a series of national public opinion surveys for a relatively long period (2004–2019) and is a source of scarce data for this study. Results present a new finding that preference for democracy, as a measure of democratic consolidation at the attitudinal level, is not accompanied by political tolerance. In fact, political tolerance weakens the consolidation of democracy, which is a symptom of a condition that the author calls the “intolerant democrat syndrome.” In this syndrome, preference for democracy is hampered by political tolerance and vice versa. This syndrome makes the consolidation of Indonesian democracy difficult. Further research on the causes of the emergence of this syndrome is necessary; however, the author suspects that the current constitution contributes systematically to this syndrome.

Ideological Vote and Electoral Performance of the Bolivian MAS, 2002–2014

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-97
Author(s):  
Diego Luján
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Party System ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Location Decisions ◽  
Electoral Success ◽  
Signaling Device ◽  
Public Opinion Surveys ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Electoral Performance

ABSTRACTSince 2005, the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) has become a predominant party in the Bolivian party system. Despite its origin as a small, indigenous, and peasant-based party, the MAS has achieved an electoral performance unprecedented in Bolivian political history. What accounts for its electoral rise? Unlike available explanations based on sociostructural, institutional, or contextual factors, this article argues that ideological location decisions served as a signaling device that allowed the MAS to differentiate itself from its competitors. In so doing, the party managed to transcend the border of ethnic and regional cleavages, appealing to a broader electorate, which contributed decisively to its electoral success. Using data from public opinion surveys and based on statistical models, this article shows that ideology was pivotal in Bolivians’ decisions to vote for the MAS, particularly during the early period of its electoral takeoff.

Metacognitively guided retrieval and report (META-RAR): Quality control processes in recall

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morris Goldsmith ◽  
Larry L. Jacoby ◽  
Vered Halamish ◽  
Christopher N. Wahlheim
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Control Processes

Studies and Application of Auger Monitoring System for Quality Control and Assurance of Al Bondpads

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Younan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Wafer Fabrication ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Auger Analysis ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Monitoring Frequency ◽  
Control Procedures

Abstract In wafer fabrication (Fab), Fluorine (F) based gases are used for Al bondpad opening process. Thus, even on a regular Al bondpad, there exists a low level of F contamination. However, the F level has to be controlled at a lower level. If the F level is higher than the control/spec limits, it could cause F-induced corrosion and Al-F defects, resulting in pad discoloration and NSOP problems. In our previous studies [1-5], the theories, characteristics, chemical and physical failure mechanisms and the root causes of the F-induced corrosion and Al-F defects on Al bondpads have been studied. In this paper, we further study F-induced corrosion and propose to establish an Auger monitoring system so as to monitor the F contamination level on Al bondpads in wafer fabrication. Auger monitoring frequency, sample preparation, wafer life, Auger analysis points, control/spec limits and OOC/OOS quality control procedures are also discussed.

scholarly journals Challenges in Bridge Health Monitoring: A Review

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4336
Author(s):  
Piervincenzo Rizzo ◽  
Alireza Enshaeian
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Highway Bridges ◽  
The United States ◽  
Anomalous Behavior ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Bridge Health Monitoring ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Many ◽  
Major Factors

Bridge health monitoring is increasingly relevant for the maintenance of existing structures or new structures with innovative concepts that require validation of design predictions. In the United States there are more than 600,000 highway bridges. Nearly half of them (46.4%) are rated as fair while about 1 out of 13 (7.6%) is rated in poor condition. As such, the United States is one of those countries in which bridge health monitoring systems are installed in order to complement conventional periodic nondestructive inspections. This paper reviews the challenges associated with bridge health monitoring related to the detection of specific bridge characteristics that may be indicators of anomalous behavior. The methods used to detect loss of stiffness, time-dependent and temperature-dependent deformations, fatigue, corrosion, and scour are discussed. Owing to the extent of the existing scientific literature, this review focuses on systems installed in U.S. bridges over the last 20 years. These are all major factors that contribute to long-term degradation of bridges. Issues related to wireless sensor drifts are discussed as well. The scope of the paper is to help newcomers, practitioners, and researchers at navigating the many methodologies that have been proposed and developed in order to identify damage using data collected from sensors installed in real structures.

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