NOTES ON SURVEYS

What Is A Survey?
It is a way to collect information directly from people about their views and beliefs. Information about their educational and financial background can also be collected. People (respondents) can answer the questions either: On their own; or In an interview; or On the telephone

What surveys involve

a) Questions (or items) Information from questionnaires is obtained by asking questions. Questions may be: Closed-ended where there are fixed responses to choose from; or Open-ended: where the respondent is free to answer in his/her own words. Think about how to write the questions and how they are ordered. b) Instructions Questionnaires must contain clear instructions. For example, must all the respondents answer all the questions? Is there a time limit? c) Sampling and design Sampling refers to the number of people to be included in the survey. The design often refers to when the survey takes place (e.g. just once or many times over a period of time?)

What surveys involve (contd)

d) Data processing and analysis How will the data from the survey be interpreted? By computing percentages? Averages? Comparing groups? Looking for relationships? Changes over time?

e) Pilot testing A pilot test is a tryout. In order to produce a survey form that is usable and that will provide the information needed, you may need to test your form first. Ensure that the language used is clear, especially when respondents complete the form on their own. The pilot can tell you whether people understand your instructions and questions.

f) Response rate This refers to the number of people who respond to the survey. Piloting helps to improve the response rate as it reduces the problems respondents will face when they complete the questionnaire.

g) Reporting results The information obtained can be reported orally or through charts, tables, graphs and reports.

II
A)

The Survey Form: Questions

Content of survey forms: the questions
What are the answers you want to find out from asking the questions? Be clear about what you need and what you can get from asking people about their views Ask the question: What information do I want and must make sure I will collect? Writing questions Write more questions than required because you may find some of these to be unsuitable. Questions may be open- and closed-ended questions.

What are closed-ended questions?

These are questions which are worded in such a way that they force respondents to choose from a list of items that are already specified. For example: Topic: Health Tick your agreement or disagreement with the following: I exercise three times a week. Agree Disagree

Advantages
They are more reliable as everyone responds using the same options. They are easy to use and to analyse.

Disadvantages

They may not provide more information about the issue.

Types of closed-ended survey questions 1 Yes/No 2 Checklist e.g. How often do you exercise a week? (tick one only) Once a week Twice a week Thrice a week Daily 3. The rating a) Nominal scale b) Category scale e.g. Gender Male Female e.g. How often do you smoke? Frequently Sometimes Almost never e.g. Good health is each persons responsibility. strongly agree agree undecided disagree strongly disagree

What are openended questions?

These are questions which allow respondents to answer in their own words. For example: Topic: Health Why do you exercise? How do you keep fit? Respondents can answer as they wish. They do not need to choose from a set of given responses as in closed-ended questions. The responses can help you have a better or different understanding of an issue

Advantages

Disadvantages

It is difficult to collate and interpret the responses since you need to sort them and categorise them before you can interpret them.

B)

Rules for Writing Closed-Ended Questions Use standard English. Have questions that are meaningful to respondents. Questions must be clear, not vague or too general. Avoid biased words or phrases (check your own biases). Do not make it personal. Have only 1 thought for each question. Order the sequence of questions carefully: The first question must be clearly linked to the purpose of the survey as stated in the introduction. Questions asked must be in a logical order. They must move from the familiar to the less familiar. Ask more objective questions first; put sensitive questions somewhere in the middle. Put the relatively easy questions at the end.

Supplementary Resources: Information Gathering and Processing

III

Data from Surveys: Analysing and Presenting

What does this mean? It means counting the responses and calculating the percentages, comparing them and looking at relationships. A tally (or frequency count) is a count of how many people fit into a category (e.g. those who are above 21 years old). This can be worked out in the form of numbers and percentages. Collate the items. Categorise the items. Calculate the percentage. Represent the data in a table or in a graph. Interpret and draw logical conclusions. List the evidence. Summarise main arguments in a report. Make recommendations.

 How is the data presented? There are several ways to present survey data clearly.
Ways to present data
Bar graphs

What does it mean?

They are commonly used because they tell readers several kinds of information at one glance. They are especially useful for comparisons. They should have a title, a key to the bars, an explanation of scores, and the source of information.

Line graphs

They allow you to compare groups, show trends and identify patterns. Create the Y-axis (vertical) about three-fourths the length of the X-axis (horizontal) or equally long. When using percentages or frequencies, use the Y-axis and begin with zero. Scores and other data go on the Xaxis and can begin at any convenient point. Make sure that equal numeric differences are represented by equal physical differences on all scales.

Pie charts

They show visually what proportion of the whole each response category occupies. The key to an accurate pie chart is to draw to scale. Calculate the proportion of the whole each category of response represents, and draw a slice that reflects that ratio. Keep the slices to no more than six or the pie will get too crowded.

Tables

Tables show columns and rows of numbers, percentages and scores. You must decide on how many columns and rows you can have but do not have too many, otherwise it becomes difficult to understand the table. Each table should have a title that tells readers its purpose and content. Include the sample size and differentiate between numbers of people and percentages. Select a table format and use it consistently. Present the data in some logical order.

Summary

The responses to the questions are given in a written report. This is usually used to present data gathered from interviews, observations and open-ended survey questions.

 Writing the Report Title

It should tell the reader what you have researched into.

Background information and aims of the survey

Give a brief explanation of the situation and the reasons for conducting the survey.

Methodology
This lists the steps taken to get the information. Include a summary of: the target respondents how the survey was carried out the sample size a copy of the questionnaire Use diagrams or charts to help the reader follow how the information was gathered.

Findings
Findings depend on the focus and purpose of the survey. It may be about the attitudes and expectations of the respondents From the data collected, infer the causes, implications. Use tables, graphs, or charts to present your findings. Present your findings in one of the following ways: - by importance - by familiarity (e.g. present situation to future scenario) - by topics (use headings)

Conclusions
This gives the summary of the findings. Make suggestions: - of the action to be taken - by whom and why the specified person(s) - by when Include ways in which you could improve your work.

Language
Is your tone and style suitable for the intended audience? Has the passive voice been used? Has indirect speech been used? Is the language used grammatically sound?

CHECKLIST FOR CONDUCTING SURVEYS

Things to do BEFORE THE SURVEY
Clarify the purpose of the survey. Identify who your target is. Decide on your sample size. Decide on how you will carry it out: - will respondents answer the questions on their own? or - will there be someone to ask the questions and record the answers? Draw up your questions. Choose a time to conduct the survey. Practise asking the questions. Prepare the stationery you will need for the survey.

Did you do this?

DURING THE SURVEY

Be polite. Be objective. Listen to the respondent!

AFTER THE SURVEY

Count the responses to each item. Compute and enter the percentage for each item. Display these in an appropriate graphic form, e.g. a chart, diagram, graph. Analyse and interpret the findings. Write a summary of the findings, giving reasons for the suggested conclusions, if any.

CONDUCTING SURVEYS: An Activity

CLASS: ________ NAME OF GROUP: ________________ DATE:_______ Situation Why do teens work during term time? Do they need the money to help support their family or are they working to get extra pocket money? Your school is interested to know more about this and your class has been tasked to find out more about the situation in your school.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Complete the following questions:

WHAT is the purpose of the survey? do we need to find out? are the questions we need to ask? will the results be used for?

Your answer

WHO do we survey?

WHY do we survey them?

QUESTIONS TO ASK:
Here are some possible questions for the questionnaire. Suggest 3-4 more questions for the questionnaire.

SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE CLASS: _________ NAME OF GROUP: ________________ DATE: _______ Working Teens
Hello, We are conducting a survey to find out why teenagers work during term time and the vacation. We would appreciate it if you could help us complete the questionnaire. Thank you! ____________________________________________________________ Please tick against the response you think best describes your thoughts/views/ practice where applicable. Section A (for working teens) 1 Which part of the year do you work? During the school vacation During term time During both school vacation and school term

Please give us your reasons for working: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Where do you work? __________________________________________________

MAKING SENSE OF THE RESPONSES A) From Questions to Tables: How to collate the data collected into tables
How might the data collected be represented in table form? The first 3 questions have been done for you; do the same thing for your next 2 questions. Question 1: Which part of the year do you work?
When teens work During vacation During term time Whole year Males No. % Females No. % Total

Question 2: Please give your reasons for working.

Reasons for working During vacation Males No. % Females No. % Total

During term time

The whole year

Question 3: Where do you work?

Where teens work Males No. % Females No. % Total

B)

Counting the Responses TALLY SHEET

This is how the responses from each questionnaire are counted. From these figures, the percentages may be computed. Based on the survey you have conducted, complete the following tally sheet. Response 1) When teens work During vacation During term time The whole year 2) reasons for working a) During vacation Too much free time Earn extra pocket money Get experience b) During term time Tally Males: Females: Males: Females: Males: Females: Males: Females: Males: Females: Males: Females: Males: Females: Total

c) The whole year

3) Where teens work

C)

Presenting the findings in a table form

Once the data are ready, enter them into the tables. You will then look at the statistics and try to draw certain conclusions from them. Question 1 Table 1: When teens work by gender
When teens work Males No. % Females No. % Total

Conclusion:

Question 2 Table 2: Reasons cited by working teens for working during term time by gender
Reasons for working During vacation During term time The whole year Males No. % Females No. % Total

Conclusion:

Question 3 Table 3: Work place of teenagers Where teens work No. Males % Females No. % Total

Conclusion: