Intro to Survey Research

Question 1

Surveys are standardised measuring instruments. What does this mean?

Answer 1

The use of specific procedures for the design and administration of surveys

This ensures reliability by making it clear how Ps should answer the survey and that instructions are kept the same for all Ps

Question 2

Surveys provide normative data. What is normative data?

Answer 2

Data from a reference population that establishes a baselines distribution for a score of measurements

It gives context to our scores within a population

Question 3

How are surveys typically presented? List 2 ways

Answer 3

1) Questionnaires
2) Interviews

Question 4

What type of data do surveys generate?

Answer 4

Either qualitative or quantitative data, or a mix of both

Question 5

What are surveys often used for?

Answer 5

Operationalise constructs

Simply = Turning fuzzy psychological terms (e.g. intelligence, anger, altruism) into measurable variables that can be compared between Ps

Question 6

How can surveys operationalise the construct of intelligence?

Answer 6

By asking questions on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and scoring them

Question 7

In psychology, surveys are used to gather data on…? List 6 examples of constructs

Answer 7

• Attitudes
• Behaviours
• Opinions
• Motivations
• Emotions
• Satisfaction

Question 8

True or False?

Surveys cannot be used to gather retrospective data, present data or future data

Answer 8

False

Surveys can be used to gather retrospective data, present data or future data

Question 9

What are the 2 main purposes of surveys?

Answer 9

1) Information gathering
2) Theory Testing and Building

Question 10

What are the 2 types of information-gathering surveys?

Answer 10

1) Exploratory
2) Descriptive

Question 11

What are the 2 types of theory-testing and building surveys?

Answer 11

1) Explanatory
2) Predictive

Question 12

Give 3 examples of the types of self-administered (questionnaire) surveys

Answer 12

• Postal
• Online
• In person

Question 13

Give 2 examples of the types of interview administered surveys

Answer 13

• Telephone
• Face to face

Question 14

When do we need to design a new questionnaire? List 3 conditions/scenarios

Answer 14

1) When no established tool exists to measure the phenomena of interest

2) When the reliability or validity of an established measure is in doubt

3) Avoid jangles (different labels for what are essentially the same thing)

Question 15

What is a pilot survey?

Answer 15

Testing the survey on a small group of people before administering it more widely

Question 16

Testing the survey on a small group of people before administering it more widely

This is known as…?

Answer 16

Piloting

Question 17

What are the 3 steps to piloting a survey?

Answer 17

1) Administer to a small sample
2) Identify problematic items and revise
3) Ask respondents for feedback

Question 18

What are the 3 general design principles of surveys?

Answer 18

1) Keep it short
2) Make sure it is readable
3) Provide appropriate response options

Question 19

How do we keep a survey short?

Answer 19

Omit any questions which will not provide useful data

Question 20

How do we make sure the survey is readable?

Answer 20

Avoid jargon - Ps must be able to understand the language used

Question 21

How do we provide appropriate response options?

Answer 21

Avoid forcing Ps to choose between more than one correct option, or not having any ‘correct’ options

Question 22

A mental health survey of prisoners entering prison is conducted, along with subsequent health monitoring, in order to identify prisoners at risk of suicide

What is the purpose of this survey?

a. Exploratory

b. Descriptive

c. Explanatory

d. Predictive

Answer 22

d. Predictive

Question 23

A researcher conducts wide-scale IQ testing in schools in order to determine current levels of literacy

What is the purpose of this survey?

a. Exploratory

b. Descriptive

c. Explanatory

d. Predictive

Answer 23

b. Descriptive

Question 24

A researcher administers a happiness survey and a personality survey to examine the hypothesis that extraverts are happier than introverts

What is the purpose of this survey?

a. Exploratory

b. Descriptive

c. Explanatory

d. Predictive

Answer 24

c. Explanatory

Question 25

A researcher interviews individuals living in a religious commune in order to learn about the psychological characteristics of cults

What is the purpose of this survey?

a. Exploratory

b. Descriptive

c. Explanatory

d. Predictive

Answer 25

a. Exploratory

Question 26

Which of the following is not a common use of a pilot study?

a. To obtain feedback on the questions

b. To identify items that are redundant

c. To identify items that are likely to be left blank

d. To collect a large sample for normative data

Answer 26

d. To collect a large sample for normative data

Question 27

What does a survey with an exploratory purpose do/tell us?

Answer 27

It explores research questions that have not previously been studied in depth

It is often used when the issue you’re studying is new, or the data collection process is challenging in some way

Simply = Survey conducted to learn more about something

Question 28

What does a survey with a descriptive purpose do/tell us?

Answer 28

It accurately and systematically describes a population, situation or phenomenon

It can answer what, where, when, and how questions, but not why questions.

Simply = Survey conducted to determine something

Question 29

What does a survey with an explanatory purpose do/tell us?

Answer 29

It explores why something occurs when limited information is available

Simply = Survey conducted to explain why something occurs

Question 30

What does a survey with a predictive purpose do/tell us?

Answer 30

It asks questions that automatically predict the best possible response options based on the text of the question

Simply = To identify a link between X and Y