Chapter 7: Survey Research Flashcards
1
Q
What is a survey?
A
- Surveys ask respondent for information using verbal or written questioning
- Most common types of quantitative research used in social science
- researcher selects a sample of respondents and administers a standardized questionnaire
- survey can take the following form:
- > written document
- > online questionnaire
- > face-to-face interview
- > telephone interview
2
Q
What are the benefit of surveys?
A
- Quick
- Inexpensive
- Efficient
- Accurate
- Flexible
3
Q
What are problems associated with surveys?
A
- poor design
- improper execution
4
Q
What is the total survey error?
A
- Has two components:
- > systematic error: results from some imperfect aspect of the research design or a mistake when executing the research
- > random sampling error: related to statistical fluctuation
5
Q
Of which two components does the systematic error consist?
A
- Administrative Error
- Respondent Error
6
Q
What is the Administrative Error (Part I Of Systematic Error)?
A
- Related to improper administration of the research task
7
Q
What is the Respondent Error (Part II Of Systematic Error)?
A
- Related to bias resulting from respondent action or inaction
- Two types
- > Nonresponse bias: non-respondents are people who refuse to cooperate with the researcher. Can result in over-representation of extreme positions and under-representation of indifferences
- > Response bias: respondents tend to answer questions in a manner that conscioulsy or unconsciously misrepresents the truth
8
Q
Which types of Response Bias are there?
A
- Acquiescence Bias
- > Some respondents tend to agree with all questions or to concur with a particular opinion
- Extremity Bias
- > Response styles vary from person to person (some persons tend to use extremes)
- Interviewer Bias
- > Presence of interviewer influences answers
- Auspices Bias
- > Caused by respondents, who are influenced by the organization conducting the study
- Social Desirability Bias
- > Respondents have desire to gain prestige or appear in a different social role
9
Q
Which types of Administrative Error are there?
A
- Interviewer cheating
- > inaccurate information, fake answers, falsifying interviews -> can be minimized by quality control techniques such as verfication by re-interview
- Data processing error
- > incorrect data entry, computer programming, …
- Samples selection error
- > improper sample design or sampling procedure execution
- Interviewer error
- > caused by interviewer´s field mistakes
