DRC is a full-service information management partner for large-scale survey programs. We provide research, technology, and process consulting and complete

DRC’s Services (click image to enlarge)

project administration—in-house, in one seamless, integrated process. Our goal is to ensure the highest possible return on your research investment.
 

Data Recognition Corporation’s InstantAccess system makes collecting information and reporting results easy and flexible. You give respondents multiple ways to provide input—Web surveys, paper surveys, IVR telephone surveys. Participants choose the methods they prefer. Our proprietary information management system ensures one person, one survey. It’s easy. That means higher response rates and faster turn around while maintaining the highest level of data integrity. When it comes to reporting survey results, there are even more options including paper reports, electronic reports, and/or custom analyses.

InstantAccess (Click image to enlarge)

 

We stake our reputation on providing leading-edge technology that translates into easier, faster, and better solutions for survey programs. With over 20 years of survey and technology experience, DRC is uniquely qualified to provide large-scale Web surveys.
 
DRC’s electronic-based services go well beyond simply collecting information on the Web. We produce large-volume online reporting, quickly and efficiently. Up-to-the-minute reports give you and your organization the in-depth information and analysis you need to make good business decisions. With customers’ and employees’ opinions at its fingertips, management has the information needed to strengthen relationships between the organization, its customers, and its employees and, ultimately, benefit its bottom line.
 
DRC’s Web technology is backed by full-service research consulting and process management for seamless execution of the survey project. DRC manages the entire project. We’ve created a streamlined, proprietary process that makes creating survey formats, collecting survey data, and reporting results direct and problem free. DRC’s survey methodology and technology expertise make web-based surveys an excellent survey alternative.
 
Easy-to-Complete Survey Forms
Customers or employees complete the survey through our www.DRC-InstantAccess.com site. Our sample selection process and pre-assigned access codes allow you to have complete control over who participates in the survey. The access code ensures that only those authorized can participate, and that only one survey is submitted per respondent. The data is protected with the highest security available.
 
The online survey is formatted to your specifications. The forms are intentionally designed for ease of use. Respondents simply click to answer multiple choice, true and false, and scaled questions. They type comments into special text boxes. As with paper surveys, respondents complete the survey at their convenience, at one sitting or over time. When complete, the respondent submits the survey and the responses are immediately available for processing.
 
Online Reports Provide In-depth Feedback
Survey results are tabulated automatically and, since responses are captured exactly as the respondent entered them, their accuracy is assured. Response rates and survey details are immediately available, making it easy to track survey progress.
 
Once the survey process is complete, our menu-driven, online reports provide easy access to the results (InstantAccess demo). Our sophisticated report options include tables, charts, and narratives and our technology is specifically geared for efficient distribution of a large quantity of reports. Summary reports give an overall view of the results. Detail reports allow for drill downs for targeted analysis. And we can incorporate live links that, for example, make it easy to link employee survey results to training programs. Smart access codes that allow some individuals to view all reports and others only selected reports.
 

We complete every project in accordance with our rigorous quality assurance procedures. We understand that the integrity of the data that drives our deliverables is paramount. Standard procedures include:
 
Confidentiality and Controlled Access
All data and information entrusted to us is held in absolute confidence. DRC employees sign a confidentiality and security agreement to protect client data and only authorized project team members have access to client data. We operate secure facilities with controlled access. Employees wear picture identification badges at all times at DRC’s facilities. Visitors must sign in, wear a visitor’s badge, and be accompanied by a DRC employee. Access to all data is controlled through password-protected workstations.
 
Data Handling
Incoming data files are verified through a validation process that checks for data integrity. Common checks include verification of record count, range checks, and frequency distributions on specific fields. As data passes through each process, validations (both manual and computerized) verify the accurate flow through of data. This ensures data accuracy and allows for a narrower focus when troubleshooting data issues. Every data processing program produces a processing log, which is reviewed for errors or problems before reports are printed or deliverables shipped.
 
Computer Programming
Every project, no matter how small, has at least two programmer/analysts assigned to it. One programmer/analyst on every project is responsible for quality assurance. The “QA programmer’s” only job is to design, create, and run test data and procedures for each part of the system, and work with the other programmers to resolve problems. Consequently, he/she is better able to identify flaws in design and programming, and to test boundary conditions. We have found this team approach to be a very effective and efficient means of meeting the high standards and expectations DRC maintains for itself and its customers.
 
Scanning
Our scanners, both OMR and OCR, print a unique batch/serial number on every document that passes through them. This number is added electronically to the data file generated by the scanner, allowing us to easily track scanned data back to the original document. Scan programs are written with data integrity checks that confirm proper response coordinates and patterns, verify omission and multiple counts, and validate error checks and edit flags.
 
Computer Hardware
Our computer hardware is backed by in-house service expertise and local parts and service suppliers. With these service resources readily available, DRC can perform within project timelines under even the most unforeseen and unanticipated circumstances.
 
Backup of Computerized Data
DRC backs up all computerized files (data, programs, documents) to magnetic tape every day. These backups are retained on site, with a 14-day inventory maintained at all times. Regularly scheduled weekly and quarterly backups are kept in a climate-controlled, inventoried data storage facility located off-site. Project data is kept indefinitely.
 

It is the people who manage our projects that allow us to guarantee every project’s success with complete confidence. Every team member makes a difference and, in fact, the project would not be complete without anyone of them, but it is the project management staff that brings it all together to meet your requirements.
 
The project manager leads a team made up of research, technology, and process consultants. Each member of the team provides input based on his or her particular expertise and, together, the team develops custom solutions for the project. Our team members’ educational backgrounds include degrees in psychology, business, marketing, English, statistics, economics, computer science, mathematics, management information systems, and journalism. Key staff members have years of experience in employee opinion, quality assessment, and customer satisfaction measurement.
 

DRC has complete, in-house publishing capabilities to prepare and produce surveys, on paper or electronically. Our in-house printing presses allow us to print both scannable and non-scannable documents. We also have the capability to individually code documents using variable intelligent printing and we provide complete mail room services for survey distribution and receiving.
 

An easy-to-read, easy-to-use survey document is an essential element of a well-designed measurement program. Our publications group is staffed by experienced desktop publishers, graphic designers, and editing professionals. Publication professionals work to develop survey formats that both meet your needs and invite participants to respond.
 
Whatever the project calls for—multiple survey versions, foreign languages, variable questions, or publishing to the Web—we meet the requirements. And, we work with multiple file formats and platforms so that data file conversion is hassle free.
 

Because so many survey projects depend upon the reliability of electronic scanning, we have established in-house printing capabilities in order to produce dependable scannable forms. We provide full typesetting, prepress, and printing capabilities. With two six-color presses, we can print more than 2.4 million 11" x 17" signatures per week.
 

High-speed laser printing provides tremendous opportunities for customized, personal communications. Our laser printing provides accurate, high quality black and white printing and the ability to print highlight color.
 
Laser-printing capabilities include:

 
DRC has found that many large survey programs lack the opportunity for smaller groups, such as districts or regions, to measure issues that are most critical to them. In response, we offers clients the opportunity to add custom questions to surveys at any reporting level. The survey form is designed with space for additional questions and our high-speed laser printers overprint the variable questions in fonts matching the original document.
 

Our Web surveys on the Internet are secure, accurate, and allow results to be automatically processed for immediate reporting. The surveys are easy to administer, easy to complete, and save time and money. We’ve created a streamlined, proprietary process that makes creating survey formats, collecting survey data, and reporting results direct and problem free. DRC’s survey methodology and technology expertise makes web-based surveys an excellent survey alternative. (More about Web Surveys.)
 

DRC provides complete in-house mailing services to support large-scale survey projects. We have the capability to do intelligently matched inserting, as well as to include some enclosures for some recipients and others for other recipients.
 
Our project teams have extensive knowledge to help you get the most from your mailing budget. We use Group I postal software to standardize addresses, add zip + 4 codes, and identify duplicate names and addresses. With Postnet, delivery point bar-coding, and appropriate sorting and bundling, you benefit from the lowest postage rates.
 

Through our Telephone Support Center, we provide easy access for customers or field staff who have questions during the survey administration. We provide a domestic 800 number and a non-800 fax number with 24 hour access. These numbers can be indicated on the paper or electronic survey or in a cover letter. This service makes it easy for survey recipients to update their name or address, or to request another survey. Telephone and fax messages can be reconciled on a daily basis and address updates and other requests can be entered directly into the survey control system.
 

Electronic scoring of survey questionnaires using OMR technology is a time-honored practice. It is the fastest and most efficient way to capture results for a paper-based, large-scale survey program. DRC has used scanning technology since our inception in the mid-1970s. Currently, we have the capacity to scan over 5 million sheets per week.
 
With careful and ongoing maintenance and calibration, our OMR scanners are exceptionally accurate. During the scanning process, both sides of the sheet are read reflectively and the results are electronically recorded. Our scanners have the capacity to identify 16 levels of light/dark, ensuring that the system accurately differentiates valid marks from smudges and erasures. To ensure even higher levels of scanning accuracy, DRC has developed data analysis routines that monitor the results of the scanning process and verify accurate scanning. Our Ink Read technology allows respondents to complete questionnaires using blue or black pens, in addition to other marking instruments. A transport printer marks each document with a batch/serial number which allows us to easily track the data with the original document.
 

OCR/Image offers advanced capabilities and greater flexibility than Optical Mark Read (OMR) scanning, while retaining its best features—high processing speed, accuracy and cost effectiveness. The image system goes well beyond simply collecting closed-end survey responses.
 
Image scanning captures multiple-choice and demographic responses using processes similar to OMR technology. At the same time, the scanner captures and interprets hand-printed characters and machine printed characters, and sends an image of written comments to a workstation for processing.
 
Operators view the survey online and edit, code, and key in a single process. We can incorporate look-up tables for code lists, address corrections, range checks, or other information to make processing fast and cost effective. (More about OCR/Image Scanning.)
 

DRC provides verbatim recording of open-end comments, including transcription and translation of foreign language comments. We employ trained comment coders to read, analyze and code comments in pre-defined categories. Coders are assigned specific projects and are trained according to the unique needs of each project. Ongoing quality control procedures ensure accuracy and consistency.
 

DRC has one of the most powerful large-scale report processing capabilities in the industry. We produce custom designed reports to address our clients’ need for large volume Web or paper-based reports that are easily understood by line managers.
 
We offer several standardized formats from narrative text with statistical information to multi-part bar graphs. Item response counts and/or percentages can be grouped into categories such as favorable, neutral, or unfavorable. In addition, respondent data can be presented in virtually unlimited combinations. We offer the ability to present normative and trend information in several formats and can provide significance testing between respondent groups. Standard statistical information such as means, standard deviations, item ranking, nominal data presentations and many more can be included in reports. We also provide reports for open-ended item responses such as employee and customer comments. Paired with our comment coding process, there are numerous options for comment report generation.
 
A common thread running through all DRC reporting software systems and processes is our commitment to provide fast, accurate, data-driven reporting. We work to produce results from the raw data with the minimum number of steps and manual interventions in the process. This attitude, along with quality control measures at every step, ensures accuracy and production efficiency that translate into cost and time savings for you.
 
When you need paper reports, our high speed laser printers produce high-quality, attractive reports—each page a xerographic original. Web-based reports are designed for fast downloading with the highest level of clarity and accuracy.
 

DRC has many years of experience managing databases for large-scale survey research projects. We maintain many large customer name and address files, some that contain several million records. In addition to survey applications, these files are used for mass mailing, awards recognition, customer tracking, and follow-up. We maintain data files under rigid security and confidentiality procedures.