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CSQA FIELD GUIDE / QA sampling

QA sampling for Beginners

For your first QA sampling task, do not change many settings: run defaults once, then adjust one item at a time.

Updated 2026-11-01About 3 minLocal test
Quick answer

For your first QA sampling task, do not change many settings: run defaults once, then adjust one item at a time. Sample for risk, channel and people, not just the most recent tickets.

Why it matters

Change one variable at a time so you know which setting matters.

Stratify by channel × issue × severity × agent.

Step by step

  1. Define QA goals and observable behaviors before building a giant scorecard.
  2. Stratify samples by shift, channel and risk so they represent real problems.
  3. Calibrate scoring boundaries before ranking or performance decisions.
  4. Attribute issues to knowledge, process, system or people before choosing fixes.

Common mistakes

  • Scoring without calibration makes managers incomparable.
  • Sampling only easy tickets biases the result.
  • Using QA as punishment makes agents hide context.
  • Looking only at CSAT while ignoring resolution and rework.

Checklist

  • Scorecard has behavioral anchors.
  • Sampling has stratification rules.
  • Calibration records disputed samples.
  • Issues have owners and review dates.

Key facts

  • Stratify by channel × issue × severity × agent.
  • Review 100% of high-risk tickets.
  • Check monthly whether the sample covers the long tail.

FAQ

How do I start with QA sampling?

For your first QA sampling task, do not change many settings: run defaults once, then adjust one item at a time. Sample for risk, channel and people, not just the most recent tickets.

How long does it take?

Usually 1-3 minutes; for intermittent issues, run 30 seconds and retest elsewhere.

Is data uploaded?

Runs locally and does not upload video/audio; extensions may still read the page.

Source: MaestroQA sampling