Sample & List Conditioning

Decision Sciences Sample and List Conditioning Services are designed to improve the quality of addresses and phone numbers for use in survey research samples as well as customer satisfaction outreach or marketing efforts.  Our list conditioning services utilize current Postal system information for standardization and Change of Address processing, as well as strategies which are unique to DSRA.  We offer both basic list processing as well as additional conditioning services. 

Step 1:  Name and Address Standardization
Files of addresses are processed using Decision Sciences parsing software in order to standardize components to meet the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) of the US Postal Service.  Proper representation of abbreviations, street directions, numbered components, prefixes and suffixes allows for the most accurate ZIP+4 and delivery point coding, duplicate detection and matching to reference databases.

Step 2:  National Change of Address Processing
National Change of Address (NCOA) processing is a match against the most recent 36 months of USPS change of address card submissions to obtain destinations for residential and business moves. In addition, multiple moves may be “chained” if evidence of more than one move is observed.  

Step 3:  Residential Phone Appending
Decision Sciences matches standardized name and address files against computerized files of listed phone numbers.  Using fuzzy pattern logic and Soundex algorithms assigns match level indicators for use in subsequent rounds of manual or computerized matching or verification.

Step 4:  Area Code Audit and Prefix Correction
Decision Sciences maintains our own in-house file of area code splits and additions associated with telephone prefixes. Our sample conditioning updates area codes and identifies invalid area code and prefix combinations that cannot be successfully dialed. Our database is also organized to contain grace period dates so that both new and old area codes may be considered valid during transitions periods. 

Some of DSRA's additional list conditioning services include:  

Custom List Input Programming
Custom programming may be required to enable processing of client address lists.  In cases where the contents of address fields are not consistent across records, Decision Sciences programming staff can apply custom editing routines so all lists can be processed with our standard procedures.

Automatic Disconnect Screening
Automatic disconnect screening procedures dial each of the phone numbers in a list to see if the numbers have been disconnected or if they are still in active service. This is done using special equipment that dials and “listens” to results for a fraction of a second. The process can identify a very high proportion of numbers that have been disconnected. 

Verification Surveys
Verification (or Probe) surveys are very brief outbound telephone surveys to identify phone numbers that can be used to actually reach the intended list members. Decision Sciences uses automated scheduling and computerized dialing procedures to place calls to list members to confirm that the target individual is available at a particular number, and asking about the best time to call. 

Trace Level Multi-jurisdictional Search
Occasionally our clients may wish to locate subject individuals that cannot be found using mail, NCOA or telephone methods.  Decision Sciences can provide in-depth searches for individuals when at least some historical identifying information is available. Search methods may include database searches, mail and phone probe surveys and in some cases site visits to verify the identity of candidates or characteristics of real property.