ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we will illustrate the ve-step DQA process for reducing the FSS data. Basically, the initial steps following the implementation of the nal status survey are to reduce the collected survey data and determine if each survey unit satises the release criterion. e major change using the MARSSIM DQA approach is the extensive use of exploratory data analysis. is may be a departure from our desire to simply rush to the bottom line-does the survey unit satisfy the release criteria? However, before we answer the bottom-line question, there are several reasons why taking the time to deliberately review and assess the data makes a lot of good practical sense. What was the nature of the sampled distribution-normal, bimodal, and so on? Does the background appear representative to the survey unit data? Are assumptions of statistical test validated? Only aer we have thought about these and other questions should we perform the statistical tests to answer the bottom-line compliance question.
