If All You've Got Is a Gizmo,
You've Got a Long, Long Way to Go
By David Lapovsky

	Ratings System Components Introduction Sampling Panel Balance Data Processing Station Encoding and/or Monitoring Operations and Production Sample Weighting Useful Reports Multiple Market Measurement Client Service Support for the Industry MRC Accreditation Print-friendly: Click here to print entire document.

Data Processing
The Policies and Procedures Used to Process Survey Data Are Essential to Survey Quality

Once the panel is in place, a ratings service must ensure that there are adequate safeguards to prevent tampering with the panel. Once the data are collected and in the ratings service system, there should be a documented set of rules defining how the data are to be processed. For example:

• How is credit assigned?
• How are missing or incomplete data handled?
• When there is more than one possible crediting option, who decides which station gets the credit?
• How are Cume audiences to be credited?
• How is a station’s audience calculated when it is off the air for a period of time?

These are the types of procedures that need to be developed over time and through exhaustive testing in real-world conditions and, as with all of the service’s procedures, shared openly with the industry.

Arbitron’s policies and procedures for data processing are the product of more than 40 years of experience, coupled with an understanding that comes from working with representatives of the industry through various standing committees, such as the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council, COLRAM, the ARF, the ANA, as well as consultation with clients in the radio community. These rules have been audited and are accredited by the Media Rating Council^®. Arbitron maintains a full-time staff of policy experts who establish and document policies and make certain that they are applied consistently across all situations.

Media Rating Council^® is a registered mark of the Media Rating Council.