Survey Research
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This document provides an overview of survey research. It defines a survey as collecting information from a sample of a population by asking questions in order to describe aspects of the population. Surveys are conducted for descriptive purposes to determine how a population distributes across variables. There are two main types of surveys: cross-sectional, which collects information at one time point, and longitudinal, which collects information over multiple time points. Proper survey methodology includes defining the problem, identifying the target population, choosing a data collection method, selecting and sampling participants, designing the questionnaire, training interviewers, addressing non-response rates, and analyzing the data.
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Survey Research
- 2. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 3. What is a Survey? Researchers are often interested in the opinions of a large group of people about a particular topic or issue. There are three major characteristics that most surveys possess: 1) 2) 3) Information is collected from a group of people in order to describe some aspect of the population Information is collected by asking questions of the members of the selected group Information is collected from a sample rather than from every member of the population
- 4. Why Are Surveys Conducted? The purpose of surveys is to describe the characteristics of a population. Researchers find out how the members of a population distribute themselves on one or more variables. A selected sample is surveyed and the description of the population is inferred from what is found out about the sample. In descriptive surveys, researchers are not as concerned about why the observed distribution exists as with what the distribution is.
- 5. Types of Surveys There are two types of surveys: 1) Cross-sectional survey Collects information from a sample that has been drawn from a predetermined population Information is collected at just one point in time, even though it could take days to gather all the data A census is when the entire population is surveyed 2) Longitudinal survey Information is collected at different points in time in order to study changes over time Three types are employed: 1) 2) 3) Trend study Cohort Study Panel Study
- 6. Survey Research and Correlational Research Techniques of Correlational Research can be tied in with Survey Research. Researchers could look at the relationship of responses to one question (survey) to another, or of a score based on one set of questions to another set. The use of calculating correlation coefficients or contingency tables could be determined and implemented.
- 7. Steps in Survey Research The following steps are used in conjunction with performing proper surveys in research: ◦ Defining the problem ◦ Identifying the target population (unit of analysis) ◦ Choosing the mode of data collection Direct administration Mail or web-based surveys Telephone surveys Personal interviews
- 8. Advantages and Disadvantages of Survey Data-Collection Methods Direct Administration Comparative cost Facilities needed? Require training of questioner? Data collection time Response rate Group administration possible? Allow for random sampling? Require literate sample? Permit follow-up questions? Encourage response to sensitive topics? Standardization of responses Telephone Mail Interview Lowest Yes Yes Shortest Very high Yes Possibly Yes No Somewhat Easy Same No Yes Short Good No Yes No Yes Somewhat Somewhat Same No No Longer Poorest No Yes Yes No Best Easy High Yes Yes Longest Very high Yes Yes No Yes Weak Hardest
- 9. Example of an Ideal vs. an Actual Telephone Sample for a Specific Question
- 10. Steps in Survey Research (cont.) The following steps are used in conjunction with performing proper surveys in research: ◦ Selecting the sample ◦ Preparing the instrument (questionnaire) Closed-ended questions Open-ended questions Pre-testing the questionnaire Format Cover letter ◦ Training interviewers .
- 12. Example of Contingency Questions © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 13. Non-response In almost all surveys, some members of the sample will not respond. Item non-response is due to unclear or questionable forms of wording. Non-response is a serious problem in many surveys. A variety of techniques are employed to reduce this problem (e.g., rewards or incentive for completing the surveys). © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
- 14. Evaluating Threats to Internal Validity in Survey Research There are four main threats to internal validity in survey research: 1) 2) 3) 4) Mortality Location Instrumentation Instrument decay
- 15. Data Analysis in Survey Research After researchers receive the completed questionnaires, the task of summarizing the results remains. The total size of the sample and total percentage of returns should be reported. The percentage of the total sample responding for each item should be reported. The percentage of respondents who chose each alternative for each question should be given.