Field Survey: Protocols Development

Introduction

Survey research is the methodological field within the social sciences concerned with the systematic collection and analysis of information from a subset of individuals or groups of persons chosen randomly from a population. Technically speaking it involves the following steps: (1) question wording, (2) structuring of the questionnaire, (3) sampling, (4) interviewing, (5) coding, (6) reporting.

Types of Surveys

There are three main types of surveys, depending on how information is collected: face-to-face, mail, and telephone surveys. Each of these collection methods presents advantages and disadvantages (Groves, 1979; Backstrom & Hursh, 1986). The face-to-face method is the most efficient method for interviewing people from difficult-to-reach groups. Another advantage is that the researcher has more control over respondents. This allows for longer interviews and increases the probability that ...

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