Transcript Objectivism - Near East University

Course Name: Advanced Research Technique
Prepared by: Zanyar Nathir
2014
Introduction
 What is survey?
 Characteristics of a good questionnaire
 Classification of survey
 Choosing a survey method
 Advantages and disadvantages of survey
 When is a survey appropriate
 The survey techniques
Interpreting results when your response rate is low
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SURVEYS are a research method by which information is typically gathered
by asking a subset of people questions on a specific topic and generalize the
results to a larger population .They are an essential component of many types
of research including public opinion, politics, health, and others. SURVEYS are
especially important when addressing topics that are difficult to assess using
other approaches (e.g., in studies assessing constructs that require individual
self-report about beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, opinions, or satisfaction).
However, there is substantial literature to show that the methods used in
conducting SURVEY research can significantly affect the reliability, validity,
and generalize ability of study results Without clear reporting of the methods
used in surveys, it is difficult or impossible to assess these characteristics.
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The survey is a method for collecting information or data
as reported by individuals. Surveys are questionnaires (or
a series of questions) that are administered to research
participants who answer the questions themselves. Since
the participants are providing the information, it is
referred to as self-report data. Surveys are used to get an
idea of how a group or population feels about a number
of things such as political debates, new businesses,
classes, and religious views, to name a few. Additionally,
surveys can be a way for people to measure how often or
how little people engage in different behaviors such as
smoking or drinking alcohol.
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1) It deals with a significant topic, one the respondent will
recognize as important enough to warrant spending one’s time
on. The significance should be clearly and carefully stated on
the questionnaire or in the letter that accompanies it.
2) It only seeks information that cannot be obtained from other
sources such as school reports or census data.
3) It is as short as possible and only long enough to get the
essential data. Long questionnaires frequently find their way
into the wastebasket.
4) It is attractive in appearance, neatly arranged, and clearly
duplicated or printed.
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5) Directions are clear and complete. Important terms
are defined. Each question deals with a single idea
and is worded as simply and clearly as possible.
6) The questions are objective with no leading
suggestions as to the responses desired.
7) Questions are presented in good psychological
order, proceeding from general to more specific
responses. The order helps respondents to organize
their own thinking so that their answers are logical
and objective.
8) It is easy to tabulate and interpret.
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A survey is most appropriate when your evaluation questions
and information needs are best answers by the people
themselves. Often we want people own reports of their
opinions and behaviors. There are things we can not see
directly . Such as attitudes and beliefs , or we may not be
able. To observe people of actions , such as their daily
consumption of fruits and vegetables. So we have to ask
them.Not all information but a variety of alternatives exist
such as.
Observations
Existing data, records, documents
Tests of abilities
Case study.
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1) Longitudinal surveys: gather information at different points
in time in order to study changes over extended periods of
time.
a) Panel study: the same subjects are surveyed at different
times over an extended period. Because the same subjects
are studied over time, researchers can see the changes in the
individuals’ behavior and investigate the reasons for the
changes.
b) Trend study: different people from the same population
are surveyed at different times.
c) Cohort study: a specific population whose members
changed over the duration of the study is followed over a
length of time.
2) Cross-sectional surveys: study a cross section (sample) of
a population at a single point in time.
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There are five main survey methods : mail, telephone, faceto face, handout, and electronic.
Each method has advantages and disadvantages. No single
method is superior to another. Each needs to be assessed in
terms of the survey content, respondent characteristics, time
line and available resources.
One of them, handout surveys, are often used at the end of a
program for at once evaluation feedback, handout surveys are
a good choice when.
You want to capitalize on having respondents available for
instance, already conference attending a fair, etc.
You have limited resource.
You may not be able to reach the people again, e.g. Mobile
populations.
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Advantages of Surveys
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1. High Representativeness
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SURVEYS provide a high level of general capability in representing a
large population. Due to the usual huge number of people who
answers SURVEY, the data being gathered possess a better
description of the relative characteristics of the general population
involved in the study. As compared to other methods of data
gathering, surveys are able to extract data that are near to the exact
attributes of the larger population.
2. Low Costs
When conducting SURVEYS, you only need to pay for the production
of survey questionnaires. If you need a larger sample of the general
population, you can allot an incentive in cash or kind, which can be
as low as $2 per person. On the other hand, other data gathering
methods such as focus groups and personal interviews require
researchers to pay more.
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3. Convenient Data Gathering
SURVEYS can be administered to the participants through a variety of ways.
The questionnaires can simply be sent via e-mail or fax, or can be
administered through the Internet. Nowadays, the online survey method has
been the most popular way of gathering data from target participants. Aside
from the convenience of data gathering, researchers are able to collect data
from people around the globe.
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4. Good Statistical Significance
Because of the high representativeness brought about by the SURVEY
method, it is often easier to find statistically significant results than other
data gathering methods. Multiple variables can also be effectively analyzed
using SURVEYS.
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5. Little or No Observer Subjectivity
Surveys are ideal for scientific research studies because they
provide all the participants with a standardized stimulus. With
such high reliability obtained, the researcher’s own biases are
eliminated.
6. Precise Results
As questions in the SURVEY should undergo careful scrutiny
and standardization, they provide uniform definitions to all
the subjects who are to answer the questionnaires. Thus,
there is a greater precision in terms of measuring the data
gathered.
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Disadvantages of Surveys
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1. Inflexible Design
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The SURVEY that was used by the researcher from the very
beginning, as well as the method of administering it, cannot be
changed all throughout the process of data gathering. Although this
inflexibility can be viewed as a weakness of the survey method, this
can also be a strength considering the fact that preciseness and
fairness can both be exercised in the study.
2. Not Ideal for Controversial Issues
Questions that bear controversies may not be precisely answered by
the participants because of the probably difficulty of recalling the
INFORMATION related to them. The truth behind these controversies
may not be relieved as accurately as when using alternative data
gathering methods such as face-to-face interviews and focus
groups.
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3. Possible Inappropriateness of Questions
Questions in SURVEYS are always
standardized before administering them to
the subjects. The researcher is therefore
forced to create questions that are general
enough to accommodate the general
population. However, these general
questions may not be as appropriate for all
the participants as they should be.
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The survey permits one to gather information from a large sample of
people relatively quickly and inexpensively. There are five basic steps
involved in survey research:
1) Planning: Survey research begins with a question that the researcher
believes can be answered most appropriately by means of the survey
method. The researcher needs to decide on the data-gathering technique
that will be used.
2) Sampling: The researcher must make decisions about the sampling
procedure that will be used and the size of the sample to survey. If one is to
generalize the sample findings to the population, it is essential that the
sample selected be representative of that population.
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3) Constructing the instrument: A major task in
survey research is the construction of the instrument
that will be used to gather the data from the sample.
4) Conducting the survey: Once the data-gathering
instrument is prepared, it must be field-tested to
determine if it will be provide the desired data. Also
included in this step would be training of the users of
the instrument, interviewing subjects or distributing
questionnaires to them, and verifying the accuracy of
the data gathered.
5) Processing the data: The last step includes
coding the data, statistical analysis, interpreting the
results, and reporting the findings.
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Types of Questions: Because survey data consist of peoples’
responses to questions, it is very important to start with good
questions. Two basic types of questions are used in survey
instruments:
1) Closed-ended Questions: One uses closed-ended
questions when all of the possible, relevant responses to a
question can be specified and the number of possible
responses is limited.
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2) Open-ended questions are used when there are a
great number of possible answers or when the
researcher is not able to predict all the possible answers.
Fink, A. (1985). The survey handbook. CA: sage publication.
Fink, A., and Jacqueline. (1985). How conducting survey. CA: Sage.
Sincero, S. M. (2012). Advantages and disadvantages of surveys. Retrieved from
https://explorable.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-surveys