#surveyvalidation

By Paul Nnanwobu, Random Dynamic Resources Ltd (Nigeria & Canada)

You can have the most expensive software, the sleekest dashboards, and the smartest analysts in the world… but if your data at the source is wrong, none of it matters.

It’s a reality we’ve learned over and over again at Random Dynamic Resources Ltd, working across Nigeria, Canada, and more than 35 African countries. In the field, things don’t always go as planned. Respondents get tired, interviewers rush, phones die, roads flood, survey logic fails. And with every small slip, data quality erodes.

That’s why we’ve made real-time field audits a core part of our operations—not as a backup plan, but as a frontline strategy.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking. Audits? Sounds like a lot of paperwork and finger-pointing. But actually, no. When done right, real-time auditing is less about catching mistakes and more about creating a feedback system that helps people get better while they’re still in the game—not after it’s over.

Let me explain how we approach it.

Before any survey goes live, our systems are built with embedded checks—skip logic, validation rules, mandatory fields. That’s standard. But once our field teams are out collecting data, we go further. Our backend system flags outliers in real time—interviews that are too fast, answers that are suspiciously uniform, GPS locations that don’t match the assigned area.

These triggers don’t accuse anyone of wrongdoing. They invite a second look.

We have quality assurance officers whose job it is to review incoming data as it comes in. Not at the end of the week. Not at the end of the month. Immediately. If something doesn’t look right, we reach out. Maybe the interviewer misunderstood a question. Maybe the respondent was rushing to leave. Maybe the network dropped halfway through and the form got corrupted.

Whatever it is, we investigate while the moment is still fresh. That’s the key.

And we don’t just rely on digital audits. Our supervisors conduct live spot-checks in person. They quietly shadow interviews, or revisit respondents a day later to verify responses. It’s not about policing. It’s about accountability.

One example stands out. During a health perception survey in coastal Senegal, our system flagged a batch of interviews completed far quicker than average. Turns out, the interviewer wasn’t falsifying data—he was just skipping probing questions because the respondents seemed uncomfortable. We retrained him, adjusted the questionnaire wording slightly, and re-approached the area. The revised responses? Richer, more reflective, and more accurate.

This approach—of catching and correcting issues while the work is still in progress—saves time and improves reliability. More importantly, it builds a culture where field teams know they’re supported, not watched. Because quality isn't just about control. It's about care.

And I’ll say this plainly: good data is hard-earned. It takes systems, yes. But it also takes people who believe that the truth matters.

At Random Dynamic Resources Ltd, we’ve invested in that belief. And this year, being nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council in London, feels like validation of that quiet commitment. The awards aren’t just about recognition. They’re about sharing ideas with global peers—about how to solve problems in fast-changing environments. We’re proud to be part of that conversation.