# I need help with a word for incomplete/complete reporting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 27, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998 "2022-06-27T21:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/1 "2022-06-27T21:50:40Z")
I am writing a report about a situation where a species is targeted by hunters, but reporting of successful kills is voluntary, not mandatory. Hence, the numbers reported do not necessarily reflect the total number of animals killed annually. I wrote the following sentence: "The fluctuating numbers may, therefore, reflect a combination of both hunting pressure and rate of reporting accuracy. " It has been pointed out to me that the reporting is actually accurate, it just isn’t complete. It’s a fine difference, but I get it. So I have been trying to think of a better word. “Rate of reporting” isn’t quite right, nor is “adequacy” of reporting. The best I have come up with is “completeness” of reporting. But I’m sure there is a more precise term I could use, but I just can’t think of it. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/2 "2022-06-27T22:08:39Z")
comprehensiveness? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/3 "2022-06-27T22:08:56Z")
It sounds to me like your data may be affected by the limitations of sampling error(s): > **[Sampling Errors](https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/data-science/sampling-errors/)** > > Sampling errors are statistical errors that arise when a sample does not represent the whole population. Increasing the sample size can reduce the errors. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/4 "2022-06-27T22:12:55Z")
“the rate of voluntary reporting.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/5 "2022-06-27T22:24:58Z")
> [@Latimera](#): > > The fluctuating numbers may, therefore, reflect a combination of both hunting pressure and rate of reporting accuracy Therefore, the fluctuating numbers may reflect a combination of both hunting pressure and the inherent variability in self-reporting of successful kills. ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/6 "2022-06-27T22:44:33Z")
Thanks everyone for the very helpful suggestions. I think “comprehensiveness" (as suggested by Chad\_Sudan) was the word I was trying to think of, but the "rate of voluntary reporting” as suggested by Kent\_Clark is probably the closest to what I was trying to say, and the most appropriate way to say it given the audience for the report. Mind you, I liked IvoryTowerDenizens wording…and I may consider revising some of my text to note the “inherent variability in self-reporting.” That’s a good statement. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/7 "2022-06-27T23:03:30Z")
Besides writing that, ISTM it is imperative to quantitatively estimate the true rate (based on the reported rate, any biases in the self-reported rates, estimated true number of hunters, species population surveys, etc.) and error bars and include all that in the report. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/8 "2022-06-27T23:18:19Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Therefore, the fluctuating numbers may reflect a combination of both hunting pressure and the inherent variability in self-reporting of successful kills. How about “Therefore, the fluctuating numbers may reflect a combination of both hunting pressure and the inherent defects of self-reporting.” A little shorter, and reflects that self-reporting is always problematic ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/9 "2022-06-28T02:03:58Z")
Be careful there. A pedantic editor or teacher will call out and demand a full listing of the “inherent defects.” ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/10 "2022-06-28T02:16:28Z")
1. It’s dependent on the vagaries of human memory. 2. It can be influenced by changed later feelings (the percentage of people self-reporting voting for Nixon sharply declined after 1973) 3. It can be influenced by external campaigns 4. ut can be affected by minor changes in the convenience of the system used gor self-reporting 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-word-for-incomplete-complete-reporting/966998/11 "2022-06-28T02:25:22Z")
The underlying problem is commonly called “underreporting”. Your mission may or may not require you to explain why and how is underreported.