Optical answer sheet
Encyclopedia
An optical answer sheet (or "bubble sheet") is a special type of form
used in multiple choice question examinations. Optical mark recognition
is used to detect answers. The most well known company in the United States
involved with optical answer sheets is Scantron
, although certain applications require their own customised system.
Optical answer sheets usually have a set of blank ovals or boxes that correspond to each question, usually on separate sheets of paper. Bar codes may mark the sheet for automatic processing, and each series of ovals filled will return a certain value when read. In this way students' ability can be tested, or identity given.
Most systems accommodate for human error
in filling in ovals imprecisely, as long as they do not stray into the other ovals and the oval is almost completely filled.
It is possible for optical answer sheets to be printed incorrectly, such that all ovals will be read as filled. This occurs if the outline of the ovals is too thick, or is irregular. During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, this occurred with over 19,000 absentee ballot
s in the Georgia
county of Gwinnett, and discovered after around 10,000 had already been returned. The slight difference was not apparent to the naked eye
, and was not detected until a test run was made in late October
. This required all ballot
s to be transferred to correctly-printed ones, by sequestered workers of the board of elections
, under close observation
by members of the Democratic and Republican (but not other
) political parties
, and county sheriff
deputies. The transfer, by law, cannot occur until election day
(November 4th).
Form (document)
A form is a document with spaces in which to write or select, for a series of documents with similar contents. The documents usually have the printed parts in common, possibly except for a serial number...
used in multiple choice question examinations. Optical mark recognition
Optical mark recognition
Optical Mark Recognition is the process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.-OMR background:...
is used to detect answers. The most well known company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
involved with optical answer sheets is Scantron
Scantron
Scantron is an American company based in Eagan, Minnesota, that manufactures and sells machine-readable papers on which students mark answers to academic multiple-choice test questions. To analyze those answers, the machines use image-based data collection software and scanners...
, although certain applications require their own customised system.
Optical answer sheets usually have a set of blank ovals or boxes that correspond to each question, usually on separate sheets of paper. Bar codes may mark the sheet for automatic processing, and each series of ovals filled will return a certain value when read. In this way students' ability can be tested, or identity given.
Most systems accommodate for human error
Human Error
Human Error is the stage name of Rafał Kuczynski , a polish electronic musician, working mostly in the ambient music genre, produced only with a computer...
in filling in ovals imprecisely, as long as they do not stray into the other ovals and the oval is almost completely filled.
It is possible for optical answer sheets to be printed incorrectly, such that all ovals will be read as filled. This occurs if the outline of the ovals is too thick, or is irregular. During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, this occurred with over 19,000 absentee ballot
Absentee ballot
An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling station. Numerous methods have been devised to facilitate this...
s in the Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
county of Gwinnett, and discovered after around 10,000 had already been returned. The slight difference was not apparent to the naked eye
Naked eye
The naked eye is a figure of speech referring to human visual perception unaided by a magnifying or light-collecting optical device, such as a telescope or microscope. Vision corrected to normal acuity using corrective lenses is considered "naked"...
, and was not detected until a test run was made in late October
October 2008
October 2008 was the tenth month of the leap year. It began on a Wednesday and ended after 31 days on a Friday.-International holidays and other major events:* October 2 – Gandhi Jayanthi India* October 13 – Columbus Day in many U.S. states...
. This required all ballot
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
s to be transferred to correctly-printed ones, by sequestered workers of the board of elections
Board of elections
A board of elections is a body of officials designated to administer elections. U.S. states often have boards of elections, as do some municipalities, such as New York City....
, under close observation
Observation
Observation is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity...
by members of the Democratic and Republican (but not other
Third party (politics)
In a two-party system of politics, the term third party is sometimes applied to a party other than the two dominant ones. While technically the term is limited to the third largest party or third oldest party, it is common, though innumerate, shorthand for any smaller party.For instance, in the...
) political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, and county sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
deputies. The transfer, by law, cannot occur until election day
Election Day (politics)
Election Day refers to the day when general elections are held. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate, while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday...
(November 4th).