Transcription error
Encyclopedia
A transcription error is a specific type of data entry error that is commonly made by human operators or by optical character recognition
programs (OCR). Human transcription errors are commonly the result of typographical mistakes, putting fingers in the wrong place during touch typing
is the easiest way to ascertain this error. A slang term "stubby fingers" is used for people who commonly makes this mistake. Electronic transcription occurs when the results of a scan of printed matter is compromised or in an unusual font
e.g. - if the paper is crumpled, or the ink is smudged when wet, the OCR may have a transcription error when reading.
Examples of Transcription Error
Input : Gtegory
Instead of : Gregory
Input : 34rd of August
Instead of : 23rd of August
Input : Jishua
Instead of : Joshua
errors occur when characters have “transposed” — that is, they have switched places. Transposition errors are almost always human in origin. The most common way for characters to be transposed is when a user is touch typing at a speed that makes them input one character, before the other. This may be caused by their brain being one step ahead of their body.
Examples of Transposition Error
Input : Gergory
Instead of : Gregory
Input : 23rd of Auguts
Instead of : 23rd of August
Input : Johsua
Instead of : Joshua
s or validation rule
s.
Transcription and Transposition error may also occur in syntax
when coding
or programming, within variable declaration or within coding parameters - this should be checked by proof reading, however syntax errors may be picked up by the program the author is using. Common desktop publishing
and word processing
applications use spell checker
s and grammar checker
s which may pick up on some transcription/transposition errors - not all errors may be picked up however, as some errors may form new words which fit grammatically. For instance if the user wished to write "The fog was dense", but instead put "The dog was dense", a grammar and spell checker would not notify the user because both phrases are grammatically correct, as is the spelling of the word "dog" and "fog". Unfortunately, the situation regarding these errors is likely to get worse before it gets better, as workload for users and workers regarding manual direct data entry devices (DDE) increases.
Double entry may also be leveraged to minimize transcription or transposition error, but at the cost of a reduced number of entries per unit time.
Mathematical transposition errors are easily identifiable. Add up the numbers that make up the difference and the resultant number will always be divisible by nine.
Using eAuditor, it was identified that human entry errors range from 0.01% when entering donor's clinical follow-up details, to 0.53% when entering pathological details, highlighting the importance of an audit protocol tool such as eAuditor in a medical research database.
Optical character recognition
Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping...
programs (OCR). Human transcription errors are commonly the result of typographical mistakes, putting fingers in the wrong place during touch typing
Touch typing
Touch typing is typing without using the sense of sight to find the keys. Specifically, a touch typist will know their location on the keyboard through muscle memory. Touch typing typically involves placing the eight fingers in a horizontal row along the middle of the keyboard and having them...
is the easiest way to ascertain this error. A slang term "stubby fingers" is used for people who commonly makes this mistake. Electronic transcription occurs when the results of a scan of printed matter is compromised or in an unusual font
Font
In typography, a font is traditionally defined as a quantity of sorts composing a complete character set of a single size and style of a particular typeface...
e.g. - if the paper is crumpled, or the ink is smudged when wet, the OCR may have a transcription error when reading.
Examples of Transcription Error
Input : Gtegory
Instead of : Gregory
Input : 34rd of August
Instead of : 23rd of August
Input : Jishua
Instead of : Joshua
Transposition Error
Transposition errors are commonly mistaken for transcription errors, but they should not be confused. As the name suggest, transpositionTransposition
Transposition may refer to:Mathematics* Transposition , a permutation which exchanges two elements and keeps all others fixed* Transposition, producing the transpose of a matrix AT, which is computed by swapping columns for rows in the matrix AGames* Transposition , different moves or a different...
errors occur when characters have “transposed” — that is, they have switched places. Transposition errors are almost always human in origin. The most common way for characters to be transposed is when a user is touch typing at a speed that makes them input one character, before the other. This may be caused by their brain being one step ahead of their body.
Examples of Transposition Error
Input : Gergory
Instead of : Gregory
Input : 23rd of Auguts
Instead of : 23rd of August
Input : Johsua
Instead of : Joshua
Solving Transcription and Transposition Errors
Transcription and Transposition errors are found everywhere, even in professional articles in newspapers or books whether fictional or factual. They can be missed by editors quite simply, just as they can be typed quite simply. The most obvious cure for the errors is for the user to watch the screen when they type, and to proof read. If the entry is occurring in data capture forms, databases or subscription forms, the coder of the forms or the database administrator should use input maskInput mask
In computer programming, an input mask refers to a string expression, defined by a developer, that governs what a user is allowed to enter in as input in a text box. It can be said to be a template, or set format that entered data must conform to, mainly used for the purposes of data integrity by...
s or validation rule
Validation rule
A Validation rule is a criterion used in the process of data validation, carried out after the data has been encoded onto an input medium and involves a data vet or validation program...
s.
Transcription and Transposition error may also occur in syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
when coding
Coding
Coding may refer to:* Channel coding in coding theory* Line coding* Computer programming, the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging / troubleshooting, and maintaining the source code of computer programs...
or programming, within variable declaration or within coding parameters - this should be checked by proof reading, however syntax errors may be picked up by the program the author is using. Common desktop publishing
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
and word processing
Word processing
Word processing is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter.-External links:...
applications use spell checker
Spell checker
In computing, a spell checker is an application program that flags words in a document that may not be spelled correctly. Spell checkers may be stand-alone capable of operating on a block of text, or as part of a larger application, such as a word processor, email client, electronic dictionary,...
s and grammar checker
Grammar checker
A grammar checker in computing terms, is a program, or part of a program, that attempts to verify written text for grammatical correctness. Grammar checkers are most often implemented as a feature of a larger program, such as a word processor, but are also available as stand-alone application that...
s which may pick up on some transcription/transposition errors - not all errors may be picked up however, as some errors may form new words which fit grammatically. For instance if the user wished to write "The fog was dense", but instead put "The dog was dense", a grammar and spell checker would not notify the user because both phrases are grammatically correct, as is the spelling of the word "dog" and "fog". Unfortunately, the situation regarding these errors is likely to get worse before it gets better, as workload for users and workers regarding manual direct data entry devices (DDE) increases.
Double entry may also be leveraged to minimize transcription or transposition error, but at the cost of a reduced number of entries per unit time.
Mathematical transposition errors are easily identifiable. Add up the numbers that make up the difference and the resultant number will always be divisible by nine.
Auditing Transcription Errors in Medical Research Databases
While double data entry is considered to be the gold standard approach. However, as double-entry needs to be carried out by two separate data entry officers, the expenses associated with double data entry are substantial. Moreover, in some institutional set up this could not be possible. Therefore M Khushi et al. suggests another semi automatic techniques called 'eAuditor'.Using eAuditor, it was identified that human entry errors range from 0.01% when entering donor's clinical follow-up details, to 0.53% when entering pathological details, highlighting the importance of an audit protocol tool such as eAuditor in a medical research database.