Data abstraction: designing the tools, recruiting and training the data abstractors.

Data abstraction is very exacting work requiring that data abstractors have both knowledge and experience of phenomena being studied. Quality of the data and efficiency of the data abstractors are dependent upon the content and design of the data abstraction tools. Taking the time to recruit and train qualified data abstractors and to develop effective data abstraction tools will result in data that not only answers the research question, but also withstands the most rigorous critique.