Surveys - Teesside University
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Transcript Surveys - Teesside University
Surveys
An overview
http://sst.tees.ac.uk/external/U0000504/Notes/
skills/surveys/srvcontents.html
Contents
What
is a survey?
Key points in survey design
Questionnaire development
Types of question
Writing questions
What is a survey?
A survey is a method of gathering data about
events that are actually occurring
In science surveys are most commonly found in
A “snapshot in time
Health
Food & Nutrition
There is probably scope for surveys in other areas.
Designing a survey
What
are you trying to investigate?
Is a survey the most appropriate?
Who is the target population?
How do you propose to administer the
survey?
How do you propose to analyse the data?
Stages in designing a survey
Survey design is an iterative
process involving
Pilot study
Testing questions
Modifying items
This may be repeated more than
once
These stages occupy most of
the time
Before finally issuing the
questionnaire
Finally the data is analysed and
the report written
D ecid e on in form ation
n eed ed
C arry ou t pilot stud y
D ecid e sam p le &
m eth od s
D esign Q u estion naire
C ond uct test su rvey
R eview Q u estionn aire
& sam p le
Issu e Q u estion naire
C od e an d A n alyse
D ata
W rite R ep ort
Designing a questionnaire
Design is important for useful data
How will you analyse the data?
Qualitative
Quantitative
This will affect the types of question you use
Open - respondents can give their opinions, feelings
etc. in their own words.
Structured - range of responses is restricted.
Open questions
Wide range of views
Richness of data
Generally best suited to qualitative analysis
Has its own methods of verification.
Non-uniform responses
Best suited to small scale or pilot surveys.
Useful for developing fixed response items
Structured question
Constrained choice
Involved standardised responses
Best suited to quantitative analysis
May miss important issues
Usually using statistics
Add qualitative item(s)
“Are there any other points you would like to add?”
Suitable for large samples
Some practical issues
How many questions?
Layout
Well spaced, clearly laid out
Easy to follow
Length of questions
Too few - not enough data
Too many - goes in the bin!
Not too long - break into shorter questions
Pilot questionnaire helps resolve issues
Ethics
Critical
to survey research.
Should I be asking this?
Confidentiality
Sensitive information
Personal information
Raising expectations?
Anonymity
of respondents
Data protection act.
Types of structured question
List
Category
Quantity
Ranking
Scale
Grid
List
Which
of the following did you eat at your
last meal? Tick all that apply
Cooked vegetables
Salad
Boiled or mashed potatoes
Roast potatoes
Chips
Jacket potatoes
Fresh fruit
Category
Please
indicate your age?
Less than 18
18 - 24
25 34
35 - 44
Etc.
Note: Questions of age are considered by some as
embarrassing (see below) and best asked as a category rather
than the direct question What is your age?
Quantity & Ranking
Quantity: How many times did you eat chips last
week?
Ranking: Place the following in the order of
importance, number 1 being the most important
A well stocked library
Well equipped laboratories
Up to date computing facilities
Scale/Grid:
Stron
gly
agree
The laboratory classes in
this module were well
organised
There were sufficient
tutorials/seminars in this
module
The lectures in this
module were clearly
presented
Agree
Neither
agree
nor
disagree
Disagree
Stron
gly
disagree
Content issues
Willing
to answer
Knowledge of subject
Cover full range of possible answers
Use prompt cards in oral surveys
Wording must be specific
Use simple, clear language
Beware!
Presumptions e.g.
Leading questions e.g.
You do think this is a poor module don’t you?
Double questions e.g.
do not assume all students are on full time courses
Do you go to aerobics and go jogging?
Embarrassing questions e.g.
What is your age?
In summary
Formulate a hypothesis
Pilot your survey
Open questionnaire to identify issues
Test and revise your questions
How will I analyse the data?
How does this question contribute?
Qualitative or quantitative?
Which statistical tests?
What are the ethical issues?
Exercise
Look at the questionnaire you will be given.
Identify the faults in each question.
Post your criticism of each question using the
blackboard form.
Work in fours based on your tutorial groups.
Improve the questionnaire.
Submit your improved version using the digital
drop box.
A copy of the original to download and edit is provided.
The End
For now
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s/surveys/srvcontents.html