SOCL 2001 Chapter : CH 2 Pt 2
Document Summary
Surveys: series of questions for respondents, respondents: people who answer the questions, come in many forms, questionnaires, face-to-face, or telephone, some surveys use a combination. Ways of conducting surveys: questionnaires and interviews: questionnaire: a series of written questions that ask for information, close-ended- has a provided list of answers, open-ended- response in their own words, some people use a mix of both. Interview: researcher directly asks respondents questions: structured interviews: close-ended, unstructured interviews: open-ended. Inexpensive: simple to administer, fast turn around, anonymity can allow people to reveal sensitive information, face to face have high response rate. In depth interview provide rich detail: probe: asking respondents to elaborate. Survey disadvantages: mail has low response rate, easily discarded if misunderstood, social desirability bias, give answers they think they should, responses that make them look good, people lie. Internet surveys can be flawed: people self-select, leaves out marginal groups. In person interviews can be expensive and dangerous.
