Survey As A Research Method
Definition:[edit | edit source]
Survey is one of the most common research methods in health and social care services. Survey is a term that generally refers to selection of a sample from pre-determined population (people whom the researcher is interested in specific study) to collect data.The collected data from sample is used to make an interference about wider population.
In survey research the data usually collected by using standardised form whether by interview or questionnaire. Surveys are designed to give a snap shot of how things are at specific time or condition without any control or manipulation to participants or variables [1].
Surveys are widely considered as a quantitative method which well situated to provide a factual and descriptive information,in contrast to qualitative methods that give deeper understanding of participant views by using focus groups or unstructured interviews[2].
Process of survey research:[edit | edit source]
- Survey Design : There are different types of survey designs ( face to face or telephone interview- mailed surveys using postal or electronic media[3]. Choosing appropriate design for any research survey depends on sampling plan and sampling procedures[3].
- Sample selection: Depends on target population size, its homogeneity and sampling media .
- Sample size calculation: Depends on 5 factors:
- Statistical power
- ability of researcher to access target population .
- Degree of precision required( to measure precision by level of significance type 1 error or confidence interval)''
- Degree of population stratification .
- Selection of analysis unit [4][5].
- Survey Tool Development: survey should be worded carefully according to study aims and objectives using different styles of questions (open and closed-ended questions).Psychometrics is a branch of survey research that enables researchers to determine validity and reliability of questionnaire.[6]
- Execution of Survey: This process starts by stage starts by piloting questionnaire to test both survey instrument and procedures.After that the survey could be conducted and data collection starts.
- Data analysis and Reporting survey results: at that stage data analysis and effective presentation of results are important elements in a successful survey.[4]
Types of survey research:[edit | edit source]
- Postal surveys.
- Telephone interviewing .
- Fax and Mail surveys.[7]
- Internet based survey. (Recently usage of internet as a method for data collection has increased.Cyber space permits us to move beyond traditional face to face interviewing or postal surveys [8].
Advantages of internet based survey:[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Kelley, K., Clark, B., Brown, V. & Sitzia, J. 2003, Good practice in the conduct and reporting of survey research, Oxford :.
- ↑ De Vaus, D.A. 2002, Surveys in social research, Psychology Press.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dillman, D.A., Smyth, J.D. and Christian, L.M., 2014. Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: the tailored design method. John Wiley & Sons.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Glasow, P.A., 2005. Fundamentals of survey research methodology. Retrieved January, 18, p.2013.
- ↑ Barlett, J.E., Kotrlik, J.W. and Higgins, C.C., 2001. Organizational research: Determining appropriate sample size in survey research. Information technology, learning, and performance journal, 19(1), p.43.
- ↑ Litwin, M.S. and Fink, A., 1995. How to measure survey reliability and validity (Vol. 7). Sage.
- ↑ Fowler Jr, F.J., 2013. Survey research methods. Sage publications.
- ↑ Fisher, B., Margolis, M. and Resnick, D., 1996. Breaking ground on the virtual frontier: Surveying civic life on the Internet. The American Sociologist, 27(1), pp.11-29.
