Survey Research

Where do we find Survey Research?

Where do we find Survey Research?

Where do we find Survey Research?

Where do we find Survey Research?

Where do we find Survey Research?

Where do we find Survey Research?

Survey Research
Survey Research is simply the collection of
data from respondents through a series of
fixed questions, and often fixed responses
(though not a requirement).
Poll Results
Figures/Charts
Tables

Magazines
Newspapers
Television

Benefits of Survey Research

Versatility

Efficiency

Surveys can cover a wide variety of topics.

Target sample within a large population
Time/Cost over an unstructured interview
Increased subject matter

Generalizability*

Works well when sampling from a large population

*Relying on the sampling used

Types of Survey Design

Mailed Self-Administered
Telephone Surveys
In-Person Interviews
Group-Administered Surveys
Online Surveys

In-Person Interview vs. Survey?

We need to be clear here that there is a
difference between and in-person interview
and what we will call intensive interviewing
in the next chapter.
When an interview is done in person, but
the questions are fixed then it is considered
a survey.

In-Person Survey vs. Intensive Interviewing

In Chapter 7 well examine a type of inperson interview that does not rely on the
fixed question format of the survey.
Ultimately, the fixed format is what provides
us the benefits of versatility, efficiency and
generalizability.

Some Language

The questionnaire refers to the survey

instrument for the self-administered survey.

The interview schedule is the survey

instrument containing the questions asked
of respondents during the course of an inperson interview.

Types of Questions

Open-Ended

Questions without fixed response categories.

How are you?

What is your progress in this class?

Fixed-choice (aka close-ended, fixed-response)

Questions with fixed response categories.

How are you? (Good, Bad, Indifferent)

What is your gender? (male, female)

Writing Good Questions

Clarity
Vagueness (time period)

Negatives and double negatives

Have you ever?

Do you disagree that we should not?
Would you fail to attend if they dont?

Double-barreled questions

Do you support the death penalty and oppose

abortion?

Response Categories

Mutually Exclusive

Mutually Exhaustive

What is your sex? (male,female)

What is your age? (0-19)(20-24)(25 and up)

Response Categories in Scales

Likert Scales

Fixed
Low to High (Ordinal)
Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree

Scale Problems

Fence-Sitters

Easy way out?

Floater

Uninformed answer

Filters

Filter Question

Determines whether or not the respondent needs

to be asked additional questions

Have you ever been arrested?

Skip Pattern

Redirects the respondent to questions that may

impact them

If Yes, go to question 2. (the contingent question)

If No, go to question 7.

Single Question vs. Index

We often recognize that we will not be able
to get at the concept of interest with only a
single question.
Fear of Crime
Confidence in the CJ System

An index/scale is a series of questions that

focus on a particular topic.

Attractive Features of an Index

Avoids concerns of idiosyncratic variation

Readers interpreting questions differently

Can get at complicated issues that single

questions fail to adequately address
Allows quantitative measures of reliability to
be statistically calculated

Revisiting Types of Survey Design

Mailed Self-Administered
Telephone Surveys
In-Person Interviews
Group-Administered Surveys
Online Surveys

Mailed Survey

Individual Setting
Self administered
Multiple Contacts

Introduction letter, reminder, second or third copy

of survey

We consider a 60% response rate the

minimum that is acceptable.

Telephone Survey

Individual Setting
Professionally administered
Multiple Contacts

East to Randomly Sample and Administer

Call-backs, multiple phones

RDD and CATI

An 80% response rate is the general

minimum.

In-Person Interview

Individual Setting
Professionally Administered
Potentially Unstructured

Instructions can be provided on request

Allows follow-up questions by respondent

Generally a 90% response rate is required

Comparison of the Big 3

Group Survey

Group Setting
Self-Administered
Concerns of diminished autonomy of
potential respondents

Students
Prisoners

A 90% response rate is generally expected.

Online/Electronic Survey

Individual Setting
Self-Administered
Types of electronic survey

E-mail survey
Web survey

Flexible and potentially graphic intensive

Concerns over limited access

Survey Research