Methods and apparatus to correct attribution errors and coverage bias for digital audio ratings

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to correct attribution errors and coverage bias for digital audio ratings are disclosed. An example method includes applying, by executing an instruction with a processor, a duration-based count matrix to first demographic data associated with collected impressions of digital audio to determine second demographic data, the duration-based count matrix being based on a misattribution adjustment matrix, applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a coverage adjustment vector to the second demographic data to determine third demographic data, applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a scaling factor to the third demographic data to determine fourth demographic data, and generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, ratings data at a daypart-level using the fourth demographic data, the ratings data associated with the digital audio.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus to generate digital media ratings, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory; and   at least one processor to execute first computer readable instructions to:   provide second computer readable instructions to at least one of embed in or link with digital media, the second computer readable instructions to cause client devices to send messages to a server of a database proprietor in response to the client devices accessing the digital media;   obtain first demographic data associated with impressions collected based on the messages from the client devices, the first demographic data including misattribution errors generated based on inaccurate user identification information included in one or more of the messages sent by the client devices to the server of the database proprietor;   apply a matrix to the first demographic data associated with the collected impressions to determine second demographic data, the matrix based on a probability that a person is attributable to a second demographic group when the first demographic data associates the person with a first demographic group different from the second demographic group; and   generate ratings data at a first granularity based on the second demographic data to correct the misattribution errors, the ratings data associated with the digital media.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein, to generate the ratings data, the at least one processor is to apply a coverage adjustment vector to the second demographic data to determine third demographic data. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, to generate the ratings data, the at least one processor is to apply a scaling factor to the second demographic data to determine the third demographic data. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is to determine a value of the probability based on survey calibration data. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the matrix is a first matrix, the probability is a first probability, and the at least one processor is to convert the first probability to a second probability included in a second matrix, the second probability corresponding to a duration unit count when (1) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is a digital counterpart of an over-the-air station, and (2) the streaming station and the over-the-air station have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second probability corresponds to a quarter-hour unit count when (3) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is not associated with a counterpart over-the-air station or (4) the over-the-station and the streaming station do not have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first demographic data includes at least one of a duration unit count, a session starts count, a quarter-hour unit count and a unique audience count. 
     
     
         9 . A method to generate digital media ratings, the method comprising:
 providing, by executing an instruction with a processor, computer readable instructions to at least one of embed in or link with digital media, the computer readable instructions to cause client devices to send messages to a server of a database proprietor in response to the client devices accessing the digital media;   obtaining, by executing an instruction with the processor, first demographic data associated with impressions collected based on the messages from the client devices, the first demographic data including misattribution errors generated based on inaccurate user identification information included in one or more of the messages sent by the client devices to the server of the database proprietor;   applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a matrix to the first demographic data associated with the collected impressions to determine second demographic data, the matrix based on a probability that a person is attributable to a second demographic group when the first demographic data associates the person with a first demographic group different from the second demographic group; and   generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, ratings data at a first granularity based on the second demographic data to correct the misattribution errors, the ratings data associated with the digital media.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including applying a coverage adjustment vector to the second demographic data to determine third demographic data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including applying a scaling factor to the second demographic data to determine the third demographic data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further including determining a value of the probability based on survey calibration data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the matrix is a first matrix, the probability is a first probability, and further including converting the first probability to a second probability included in a second matrix, the second probability corresponding to a duration unit count when (1) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is a digital counterpart of an over-the-air station, and (2) the streaming station and the over-the-air station have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second probability corresponds to a quarter-hour unit count when (3) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is not associated with a counterpart over-the-air station or (4) the over-the-station and the streaming station do not have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first demographic data includes at least one of a duration unit count, a session starts count, a quarter-hour unit count and a unique audience count. 
     
     
         16 . A tangible machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:
 provide computer readable instructions to at least one of embed in or link with digital media, the computer readable instructions to cause client devices to send messages to a server of a database proprietor in response to the client devices accessing the digital media;   obtain first demographic data associated with impressions collected based on the messages from the client devices, the first demographic data including misattribution errors generated based on inaccurate user identification information included in one or more of the messages sent by the client devices to the server of the database proprietor;   apply a matrix to the first demographic data associated with the collected impressions to determine second demographic data, the matrix based on a probability that a person is attributable to a second demographic group when the first demographic data associates the person with a first demographic group different from the second demographic group; and   generate ratings data at a first granularity based on the second demographic data to correct the misattribution errors, the ratings data associated with the digital media.   
     
     
         17 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to apply a coverage adjustment vector to the second demographic data to determine third demographic data. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to apply a scaling factor to the second demographic data to determine the third demographic data. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the matrix is a first matrix, the probability is a first probability, and the instructions are to further cause the processor to convert the first probability to a second probability included in a second matrix, the second probability corresponding to a duration unit count when (1) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is a digital counterpart of an over-the-air station, and (2) the streaming station and the over-the-air station have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         20 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the second probability corresponds to a quarter-hour unit count when (3) a streaming station that distributes the digital media is not associated with a counterpart over-the-air station or (4) the over-the-station and the streaming station do not have a same advertisement load. 
     
     
         21 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first demographic data includes at least one of a duration unit count, a session starts count, a quarter-hour unit count and a unique audience count.