L7 21/02 Flashcards
1
Q
What is a survey?
A
A non-experimental quantitative research design. It is a study design that may use a questionnaire.
2
Q
What form can a survey adopt?
A
A questionnaire or based on another means of gathering data from people
3
Q
Why is a survey quantitative?
A
- Each participant has the same questions (the process does not change – it remains the same)
- It produces numbers that can be subjected to statistical analysis
- We can assign numbers to people answers by manipulating data
4
Q
Open questions elicit what kind of data?
A
Qualitative (textual)
5
Q
Limitation of survey
A
Often misused in health research
6
Q
Useful survey applications in healthcare
A
- Service evaluation – good or bad within healthcare
- Patient experience/opinion studies
- Service redesign
7
Q
5 things to maximise survey validity
A
- Use a clear research question – survey focused on research question
- Identify the population and a relevant, representative sample
- Choose a method of distribution to maximise response
- Plan the coding method: Variables labels for categorised answers
- Test the survey tool: Expert consensus groups, piloting
8
Q
Survey advantages
A
- Simple measure of attitudes, beliefs, values, understandings
- Easy access to most human populations
- Can address sensitive topics – anonymous
- Effective at collecting large amounts of information
- Collects highly standardised data – provided not asking lots of open questions
- Efficient; cheap and non-resource-intensive
9
Q
Survey challenges
A
- Response/completion rates are poor > around 30-40%: Particular issue with postal surveys, may need for ‘reminders’, must be short to ensure completion rate, small amount of data gathered
- No researcher control over sample: possible bias with who chooses to participate
- No control over data quality or accuracy: misunderstandings can affect accuracy
- Responses have to be retrospectively coded
10
Q
Demographic data (background information about participants)
A
- Gender
- Age Group
- Ethnic group
- Height, weight etc.
- Length of time having health conditions
11
Q
In order to maximise accuracy, data quality (and participation) closed response questions need to be what 4 things?
A
- Accurate (clearly linked to the point of the survey)
- Exhaustive (all possible options are covered)
- Mutually exclusive (so that only one answer is accurate)
- One dimensional (so that only one answer is possible)
12
Q
What are the 5 question types?
A
- Fixed Alternative Responses / Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Likert scales (agree, strongly agree etc)
- Multiple responses
- Filter questions (yes/no and follow up if answered yes)
- Open questions
13
Q
Other design considerations
A
- Document appearance
- Aesthetic and layout
- Use of white space
- Clarity of instructions for completion
- Grouping of questions into sections
14
Q
What is coding?
A
Coding is the practice of assigning a numerical value to fixed response alternatives so that it can be easily managed.
15
Q
Advantages of coding
A
- Useful in descriptive or evaluative designs
- Easy way to study attitudes, values, beliefs
- Useful in almost all populations
- Standardised data
- Gather large amounts of data
- Efficient
- Anonymous
16
Q
Limitations of coding
A
- Potential for response biases
- Low response rates, particularly in postal surveys
- Risk of misunderstanding
- Incomplete responses
- Potential inaccuracy
- Often badly designed
17
Q
Health designs often used validated scales such as..
A
- Hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale
- General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)
18
Q
Indicators of validity are…
A
- Focussed research question and purpose
- Clear identification of population and sample
- Piloting and revising the survey tool and coding method
- Accuracy, ease of use, relevance to aims of survey
- Logical and appropriate recruitment method
- Reliable data collection method (Self report; Face to face; Postal distribution; E-survey)
- Sound data analysis methods (ideally conducted by 2 independent researchers0
19
Q
Evaluating the survey tool
A
- Check that the survey tool relates to the research question
- Check what demographic data has been collected (NOT intrusive and always relevant to the issue)
- Consider if a previously validated tool has been used; if not then “why not”?
- Has the tool been piloted or validated
20
Q
Evaluating Sampling and Recruitment
A
- Population and sample should be related to the question
- Sampling technique should be related to the aims and NOT just what is easiest to achieve
- Is a random sample needed or will convenience sampling suffice?
- Recruitment will always be related to the sampling strategy and invitations to participate
- Issues surrounding sampling and recruitment should be discussed in the write-up
21
Q
Data collection methods (4)
A
- Self report
- Postal
- E-survey
- Face to face
22
Q
Evaluation of data analysis
A
- Analysis should use the data to answer the research question(s)
- Check for rigorous coding (preferably repeated by independent researcher)
- Data should be entered into a data management system (Excel, SPSS etc.)
- Descriptive statistics should describe the data (look for diagrams to clarify)
- Analysis should identify patterns
- Inferential statistics may be used; check their validity
- Interpretation should relate to the survey aims
- Beware of “fishing” techniques
23
Q
Advantages of surveys
A
- Useful in exploratory, descriptive or evaluative research designs
- Good for measuring attitudes, beliefs, values, understandings
- Can potentially access a wide population
- Useful for sensitive topics
- Provides anonymity
- Only appropriate if data can be standardised
24
Q
Disadvantages of surveys
A
- No researcher control over sample
- No control over data quality or accuracy
- Incomplete responses/data sets
- Risk of misunderstandings or ambiguities
- No opportunity for clarification (except face to face)
- Poor response rates
