October 16, 2018 Soci 217 Survey Research · Ancient civilizations used survey research. · In 1880 Marx sent out 25000 questionanaires O Wanted to determine the extent of French workers' exploitation by employers o Surveys research is a frequently used mode of observation in the social sciences · Data collection method o Respondents o Uniform questionnaire · Probability sampling · Often descriptive and explanatory purposes . Most common method for quantitative studies . Today we have to talk about response rate Topics Appropriate to Survey Research · Survey research o Embedded in the qualitative research tradition o Most often, people are the unit of analysis · Respondent o A person who provides data for analysis by responding to a survey questionnaire " Best method available to collect original data from populations to large to observe directly Guidelines for asking Questions Response Rate · Response rate = Number participatingE survey Number selected for sample . Relates to the representativeness of the sample · Acceptable response rates for self-completion surveys o Rule of thumb o 50% - adequate o 60% - good o 70% -very good . WE have to talk about response rate or it is not honest o Survey Modes Self administered Interviewer administered Mail in Questionnaire Phone survey Web Survey Face to face interview · Mail in Questionnaire o Self completion surveys o Follow up mailings
October 16, 2018 Soci 217 o Pro's . Not too costly . More time to give well-thought answers · People may feel more comfortable giving truthful answers to sensitive questions No characteristics to affect the answers o Cons · Lower response rate · Bias; only people who feel strong about an issue may be answering · Cannot clarify questions or probe answers . No info about the physical or psychological condition in which survey was completed . Phone Survey o Interviewer calls respondent, asks questions, records answers · Sampled from lists, phone directories, or random digit dialling o Pros · Higher response rate . More willingness to give socially disaporoved answered on the phone than in person " Safety for the interviewer · Having a supervisor on site allows interviewers to ask question s o Cons . Limited to those with phones · Limited to listed numbers; unless random digital dialling Respondants may be suspisious of people on the phone · Negative influence of telemarketing and bogus surveys · People can hang up · Proliferation of answering machines and call screening devices · Web Surveys o Best practices for creating an effective online survey: · Provide a clear, compelling reason for participatin in survey completion · Use simple, direct language . Restrict the survey length to under 20 minutes · Offer to share a summary of the results with interested participants · Use appropriate design and colour to help respondents navigate the survey · Use radio buttons and drop-down boxes to reduce response errors · In grid-design questions, make sure response labels are continuously visible · Take full advantage of skip pattern pre-programming