DECA Hospitality and Tourism Cluster Practice Exam

The correct answer is C, data cleansing. This stage involves the process of reviewing and correcting data to ensure its accuracy and reliability. When survey responses are flagged, it typically indicates that there may be inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or missing information in the data collected. Data cleansing aims to resolve these issues, enhancing the overall quality of the dataset before further analysis.

In contrast, the other stages serve distinct purposes. Manual scanning refers to the initial review of responses or data for surface-level checks, primarily focusing on identifying obvious errors. Editing answers might involve making specific changes to individual responses but does not encompass the broader process of addressing multiple flagged entries. Data entry is the initial phase where data is inputted into a system, lacking the critical review component found in data cleansing, where flagged responses are closely examined and adjusted as necessary.