CH7 Survey Research Flashcards
social research method in which researchers ask a sample of individuals to answer a series of questions
survey
occurs when social researchers design and carry out their own data collection
primary data collection
a resource that was collected by someone else
secondary data collection
a survey completed directly by respondents through the mail or online
self-administered questionaire (SAQ)
the preset answers on a survey
response categories
broad interview questions where subjects respond in their own words rather than in preset ways
open ended questions
questions where subjects can respond only in preset ways
close ended questions
Respondents may choose not to participate in a survey at all, or they may choose not to respond to particular questions on the survey
If individuals who do and do not respond differ in systematic ways, then the results of the study may be biased
nonresponse
It occurs when the approach used to measure a particular variable affects the response provided
It may include the survey design, the interviewer, or the setting
measurement error
When the sampling frame does not adequately capture all members of the target population
It results from either systematically omitting respondents or including the same respondents multiple times
coverage error
It involves differences between the characteristics of the sample and the characteristics of the population that the sample represents
sampling error
the proportion of the people contacted to participate in a survey who actually participate
response rate
prepared list of questions
interview schedule
a researcher or interviewer interacts with respondents in person. Questions are asked, and responses are recorded during a physical meeting.
face-to-face interviews
information about the survey process
paradata
where the researcher asks questions and records the respondent’s answers in a preprinted copy of the survey booklet
This is a manual process and susceptible to error from the researcher
Paper-and-pencil interview (PAPI)
face-to-face interview where the researcher uses a laptop/tablet that is preprogrammed with all the survey responses and response categories
computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI)
a common psychological phenomenon that occurs when individuals respond to survey questions or provide information in a way that presents themselves in a more socially favorable or socially acceptable light, rather than providing completely honest or accurate responses.
social desirability bias
Strengths
Interviewers can ensure that respondents understand the questions and do not skip any that are troubling or sensitive.
Limitations
The characteristics of the interviewer may influence how the respondents answer the questions.
face-to-face interviews
involve researchers calling respondents and conducting interviews over the phone.
telephone surveys
researchers send questionnaires or surveys by mail to respondents, who complete and return them.
mail surveys
conducted through web-based platforms, where respondents complete questionnaires via the internet.
online surveys
part of the question that presents the issue of discussion
stem
where answers do not overlap and have at least one accurate response, respectively
mutually exclusive and exhaustive
close-ended questions that use a series of ordered categories
rating scales
Scale asking respondents (Likely, Not likely, sometimes, always)
Likert scales
closed-ended questions that agree or disagree and tend to produce the best quality data
forced-choice
when agree-disagree rating scale respondents tend to answer “agree”
acquiescence bias
type of close-ended question that asks the respondent to rank-order their priorities or preferences.
ranking items
combines multiple items, whether as a scale or an index, to create a single value that captures a multifaceted concept
composite measure
a sum of responses to multiple survey items that capture a particular concept being measured
index
averages the responses of items to capture a particular concept
scale
where a question asks about two or more ideas in a single question
double barreled question
a system of organizing information about a data set, including the variables it contains, the possible values for each variable, coding schemes, and decision rules
codebook
the tendency to select the same answer to several sequential questions, perhaps out of boredom or a desire to quickly finish the survey
response set
occur when the order in which questions appear biases the responses
order effects
a type of order effect in which exposure to a particular image, word, or feeling shapes how respondents think and feel in the immediate aftermath
priming effects
4 types of errors in surveys
nonresponse
measurement error
coverage error
sampling error
