The present invention is concerned with an error correction device and method for correcting errors in data items sent on a plurality of channels. An identification unit calculates an exclusive OR value for data items sent on the plurality of channels, and adopts the calculated value as data sent on a separate error correction channel. A signal quality detection unit detects the signal qualities concerning the plurality of channels. If the exclusive OR value is not equal zero, an identifying and processing unit replaces data on a channel whose signal quality is detected to be worst with an exclusive OR value for data items sent on channels other than the channel whose signal quality is worst.