1.

Survey Research
The behaviors and thoughts related to certain population are gathered in the form of
statistical surveys or the questionnaires leading to the phenomenon of the survey
research. The broad information is collecting the question responses from the respondents
and the surveys are conducted for the detailed knowledge through written ideas related to
certain subjects.

2. Types of Surveys
Time dimensions are taken into account for the survey methods. Generally the survey
methods are divided into two large spectrums that are longitudinal surveys and cross
sectional surveys.
2.1. Longitudinal surveys
The survey samples are collected along the timeline at different times to study the trends
of change that has occurred in the extensive time period. As the students behavior is
studied selecting the junior class and then moving onwards to the high grades to
demonstrate the change in abilities quantitatively and time over the extended time period.
The longitudinal surveys are subdivided further into Panel studies, trend studies and
cohort studies.
2.1.1. Panel Studies
In panel studies the subject of study over the extended time would be the same as
explained above.
2.1.2. Trend studies
The trend is observed over the time to but the subjects though from the same population
would be different at different times of the study.
2.1.3. Cohort Studies
The samples would be drawn from the specific group at different intervals but would be
randomly selected. The subjects would be different but the same population would be
followed up for this type of survey.

2.2. Cross sectional surveys

The time selection is done at a single point at which the samples are studies. The cross
sectional study serves the purposed of comparison of different population samples at
different times and is regard as a choice method of sampling.

3. Selecting the Survey Method

The selection of a survey method or type in the social researches is the most critical
decisions in survey research as it determines the oath of the whole research. The
associated advantages and disadvantages of different sampling methods are accessed first
and then the method is chosen accordingly. Various issues while selecting the survey
method are stated below.

3.1. Population Issues

The accessibility of the population and the related considerations are primary concern of
selection the issues are related to enumeration of population, literacy rate in the
considered sample, language to access the population and the geographical restrictions.

The listing of people taken for sampling is hardly found as the voters list or number of
driving licenses could not indicate the homeless people, number of farmers, beggars etc.
The main strategy of filling up questionnaires and taking up interviews is planned. In the
questionnaire filling case the reading and writing abilities of the respondents are must;
therefore the surety is to be made to avoid the technical language in the questionnaire and
make it as sample as possible. In case of interviews the Multilanguage in the area creates
the hindrance; so the interview taker should be native to that population knowing all the
local languages. And in case of wide geographical spread it’s not possible to assure
cooperation of all the subjects related to the population and also not possible to cover the
whole population rendering it to represent the whole population.

3.2. Sampling Issues

Sampling issues may includes the availability of data, availability of the respondents,
identification of the right respondent, making possible efforts to include maximum
representatives of population and the rate of responses expected from the subjects.
3.3. Question Issues

The type of the survey that is selected is also dependent upon the questions to be asked
and which not. The questions related issue may be question type, the complexity of the
questions as the remote people could not understand the complex terminology, and
requirement of the screening questions to check the literacy level of the population,
questions sequence in a questionnaire, length of the questions and whether or not the
response scale should be used.

3.4. Content Issues

The utilization of the survey type according to the content is also an issue in case of
selecting the sampling method and may include the related issues like knowledge of
the respondents towards the issue and the need of respondent consultancy towards
the records.

3.5. Bias Issues

The sample subjects of the employees are often sticking to certain prejudices and biases.
The biases may or may not be a big issue for sampling. The issues would include
the need to avoid the social desirability, control of subversion of interviewer and
avoidance of the wrong respondent.

3.6. Administrative Issues

Feasibility for conduction of the survey is very important as the cost, facilities, time,
personnel and human resource are the major requirement for making the survey
successful.

4. Constructing the Survey

The survey is constructed according to the survey instruments incorporating the decisions
about wording, placement, format, and content. The final product however is not the
result of pre formulated plan; it comes out new all time according to the needs and the
requirements. The learning of types is the main issue with sampling, then choosing one
from the interviews and the questionnaires would be followed. The question
identification is then preceded by its proper placement in the survey. The common sense
in this whole procedure plays an important role, which could make the results
constructive or total rule out of the inappropriate method being employed.

5. Interviews

The questionnaires are not that much personal and exact as that of the interviews in
which there is a physical presence of the interviewer or the interviewee. The direct
contact between the interviewer or the interviewee is seen in the personal
interviews in which all the questions are made answerable unlike that of mailing
surveys where the question are answered according to the choice. The opinions and
impressions could be effectively made in the interviews rather questionnaires. The
telephone interviews are also common to reach the response in no time; being more
or less similar to the personal interviews. The main disadvantage is that all the
subjects don’t have access to the personal phone numbers and the number of
respondents would be limited in this case.

6. Plus & Minus of Survey Methods

6.1. Plus of the surveys

• Survey research covers the maximum population in the minimum expenses.

• The remote locations could be reachable through telephone, mail or the interview.
• The multiple variables can be analyzed through the analysis of large samples.
• The questions can be made according to the flexibility as there are several ways to
ask a simple question rendering the precision of the standard questions.

6.2. Minus of the surveys

 • The standardization demands the formulation of generalized questions that could
be answerable by most of the respondents.
• The designs of survey once formulated could not be changed in the study course,
so the method is inflexible from start to end.
• The sample volume should very large as compared to other sampling techniques.
• The controversial questions are unaware in different contexts that make
generalization impossible.

References
• McCarthy, Robert L. Survey Research Center. Website
HREF="http://srcweb.berkeley.edu:4229/ .retrieved on May 16, 2011.
• Trochim, William M. "Survey Research." The Research Methods Knowledge
Base, 2nd Edition.
• Alreck, P. L., & Settle, R. B. (1995). The survey research handbook: Guidelines
and strategies for conducting a survey (2nd). Burr Ridge, IL: Irwin.
• Belson, W.A. (1986). Validity in survey research. Brookvield, VT: Gower.