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Conducting Surveys

Conducting surveys is a method used to gather information from a sample population to generalize views. There are four main methods: in-person interviews, online surveys, paper surveys, and telephone surveys. In-person interviews allow researchers to ask visual questions directly but introduce bias. Online surveys are inexpensive and easy to administer but require computer literacy. Paper surveys can be used in any location but are costly. Telephone surveys provide anonymity but are time-consuming and non-visual. Effective research interviews require clear questions, purpose, and avoiding bias through open-ended neutral questions.

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47 views

Conducting Surveys

Conducting surveys is a method used to gather information from a sample population to generalize views. There are four main methods: in-person interviews, online surveys, paper surveys, and telephone surveys. In-person interviews allow researchers to ask visual questions directly but introduce bias. Online surveys are inexpensive and easy to administer but require computer literacy. Paper surveys can be used in any location but are costly. Telephone surveys provide anonymity but are time-consuming and non-visual. Effective research interviews require clear questions, purpose, and avoiding bias through open-ended neutral questions.

Uploaded by

Vanderlee Pinated
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Conducting Surveys

Conducting Surveys

Technically, a survey is a method of gathering and compiling information from a group


of people, more often known as the sample, to gain knowledge by organizations, businesses,
or institutions. This information or opinion collected from the sample is more often a
generalization of what a large population thinks. To conduct surveys, the following may be
employed: in-person interviews, by telephone, through the mail, and over the Internet.

1. One-to-One interviews (In-person Interviews)


The one-to-one interview helps researchers gather information or data directly from a
respondent. The previous activity that you have done (Parental Interview) is an example of
this method of conducting surveys. It’s a qualitative research method and depends on the
knowledge and experience of a researcher to frame and ask relevant questions one after the
other to collect meaningful insights from the interview. These interviews can last from 30
minutes up to a few hours.

Pros: Questions on the survey that are asked directly to the respondent by the researcher
usually produces good response rates if visual materials are required during the survey. This
also provides a great opportunity for the researcher to observe the participants.

Cons: There’s a higher chance of bias due to the interaction between the respondent and the
interviewer. The principle of anonymity is also lost. It is neither ideal if the participants are
located in different geographical areas

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE RESEARCH INTERVIEWS


(Maya Thomas and M.J. Thomas)

1. Make sure the research question is clear.


2. Develop a check list of the questions to be asked during the interview.
3. Express clearly the purpose of the interview.
4. Start with a neutral question to facilitate free flow of information.
5. Use open-ended questions so that the respondent can choose his answer.
6. Limit the content of each question with a single idea to avoid confusion.
7. Reduce questions that give responses of `yes' or `no', because they give limited
information.
8. Do not influence the respondent by asking leading questions.
9. If you have not understood the response ask the respondent to repeat and
clarify.
10. Do not assume answers.
11. Do not pass judgements.
12. Avoid irrelevant discussions.
13. When you change the tack, inform the respondent that you are doing so.
14. Keep the interview short.
15. At the end of the interview summarize the points reported and ask the
respondent if

2. Online surveys
One of the most popular types is an online survey. With technology advancing many
folds with each passing day, an online survey is becoming more popular. This survey
consists of survey questions that can be easily deployed to the respondents online via email,
or they can simply access the survey if they have an internet connection. These surveys are
easy to design and simple to conduct. Respondents are given ample time and space to
answer these surveys, and so researchers can expect unbiased responses. They are less
expensive, and data can be collected and analyzed quickly.

Pros: The online survey technique is ideal for a survey requiring a huge sample size and/or a
sample whose members live in wide geographical areas. This is also less expensive compared to
sending survey through mail. Also, many survey companies can help you conduct the survey
online with decent precision.

Cons: The members of the sample must be computer literate in order to answer the survey
questions online. This method may also require giving an incentive to the participants.

3. Paper Surveys
As the name suggests, this survey uses the traditional paper and pencil approach.
Many would believe that paper surveys are a thing of the past. However, they are quite
handy when it comes to field research and data collection. These surveys can go where
computers, laptops or other handheld devices cannot go. This survey type, however, is the
most expensive method of data collection. It includes deploying a large number of human
resources, along with time and money.

Pros: A traditional survey administration method, the paper-and-pencil survey is ideal for
respondents who are not computer literate or do not have an access to the Internet.

Cons: The paper-and-pencil self-administered technique usually requires the researcher to be


present during the administration, and also necessitates doing the expensive reproduction of
survey questionnaires and the tiring manual distribution of the questionnaires to the
respondents.

4. Telephone Surveys
Researchers conduct these over telephones. Respondents need to answer questions
related to the research topic. These surveys are time-consuming and sometimes
nonconclusive. The success of these depends on how many people answer the phone and
want to invest their time answering questions over the telephone.

Pros: This method can be used for asking consequential questions. It provides anonymity better
than face-to-face interviews.

Cons: Telephone surveys are not ideal for data gathering which requires the participants to see a
visual material. In addition, telephone calls for survey purposes are not appropriate if long
questions are to be asked.

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