Surveys & Interview

"The goal is to write straightforward, unambigious, and unbiased questions that will elicit usable, reliable, and valid information"

(Schweigert, 2012, p.206).

Survey development

Sampling

1. Determine exactly what information is needed

2. Develop a first draft

3. Pilot the draft

4. Modify survey

5. Test-run again

6. Modify if needed and put to use!

Systematic sampling

Stratified sampling

Cluster sampling

Convenience sampling

Snowball sampling

Disadvantages:

• Mail & Internet- weak response rates
• Self-administerd, can't clarify questions
• Unsure who is responding
• Can't access certain populations
• Certain type of person who is willing to complete surveys
• Telephone - potential interviewer bias

Advantages:

• Reach large and wide potential respondents
• Complete on own time
• Inexpensive
• Reduces interviewer bias; sampling bias
• Mail - Sensitive information
• Internet - Reach specific population of interest
• Internet - Immediate return
• Telephone - Higher response rate
• Telephone - Establish rapport

Mail surveys

Telephone surveys

Internet surveys

Interviews

Purpose: to assess opinions or compare groups; to provide answers to applied research questions

Constructing the Survey

Advantages?

Disadvantages?

Scales and defining the scale

• Likert scale

Wording:

• open-ended & closed questions
• leading questions
• loaded questions
• double barreled question

Closed questions:

On average, how many hours of television do you watch per day?

a. 0-1 hours

b. 1-2 hours

c. 2-3 hours

d. 3 hours or more

Open-ended:

On average, how many hours of television do you watch per day?

____hours

Affordable Care Act vs. Obamacare

Constructing the survey

-Layout - in what order do you ask the questions?

• Demographic questions - first or last

-Flow

• Filter questions

-Wording!

Leading:

"Most people believe recyclng is an important way to help conserve resources. Do you agree?"

Loaded:

"Do you believe that radical extremists have the right to burn our country's beloved symbol of freedom, the flag?"

• https://www.donaldjtrump.com/landing/2020-trump-vs-dem-poll

Double-barreled:

"Do you find your job interesting and exciting?

The goal is for survey responses to lead to reliable and valid information.

Surveys