Overview of Survey Research (Exam #2 Social Research Methods)

Question 1

guidelines for writing good questions

Answer 1

1. Be clear, avoid using confusing phrasing such as double barreled questions or double negatives
2. Minimize bias
3. Allow for disagreement
4. Don’t ask questions they can’t answer
5. Allow for uncertainity
6. Make Response Categories Exhaustive and Mutually Exclusive

Question 2

Double negative

Answer 2

A question or statement that contains two negatives, which can muddy the meaning of the question

Question 3

Double-barreled

Answer 3

A single survey question that actually asks two questions but allows only one answer

Question 4

study guide: guidelines for writing good questions

Answer 4

1.clarity and precision
2. appropriate vocabulary
3. avoid double-barreled questions
4. avoid emotionally loaded words
5. avoid leading questions

Question 5

mutually exclusive response categories

Answer 5

Questions with fixed response choices must provide one and only one possible response for everyone who is asked the question

Question 6

exhaustive responses

Answer 6

all of the possibilities should be offered (choices should be exhaustive)

Question 7

respondent competency

Answer 7

Some respondents tend to “agree” with a statement just to avoid disagreeing. In a sense, they want to be
helpful

Question 8

filter question

Answer 8

A survey question used to identify a subset of respondents who then are asked other questions

hint: is always yes or no question

Question 9

skip pattern

Answer 9

The unique combination of questions created in a survey by filter questions and contingent questions

Question 10

contingency questions

Answer 10

A question that is asked of only a subset of survey respondents

Question 11

self-administered questionnaire

Answer 11

A survey involving a mailed questionnaire to be completed by the respondent

Question 12

mail questionnaire

Answer 12

A survey that is sent and answered through e-mail

pro: easy for researchers to develop and for respondents to use
con: they are weakest from a sampling standpoint, low response rate

Question 13

interviewer administered questionnaires

Question 14

face-to-face interviews

Answer 14

A survey in which an interviewer questions respondents face-to-face and records their answers

pro: response rates higher, questionnaires can be much longer than with mailed or phone surveys; the questionnaire can be
complex, with both open-ended and closed-ended questions,

Question 15

telephone interviews

Answer 15

A survey in which interviewers question respondents over the phone and record their answers

con: not reaching the proper sampling units (or coverage error) and not getting enough successfully completed responses
to make the results generalizable

Question 16

closed-ended questions

Answer 16

multiple choice basically

Question 17

open-ended questions

Answer 17

A survey question to which respondents reply in their own words, either by writing or by talking

Question 18

context effects

Answer 18

In survey research, refers to the influence that earlier questions may have on how subsequent questions are answered. Question order can lead to context effects

hint: The potential for context effects is greatest when two or more questions concern the same issue or closely related issues
ex. in a survey about the current president you say that you vote for him, and for the rest of the survey you feel the need to say you agree with all his policies (even when you don’t)

Question 19

validity

Question 20

reliability

Question 21

Strengths of survey research

Answer 21

1. Versatile
2. Efficient
3. Generalizable results

Question 22

randomized response
technique

Answer 22

used to obtain more valid estimates of underreported behavior

ex. Have you had an abortion? & what month u born in?
Flip coin/random sample to answer

Question 23

probes

Answer 23

ask the respondents what they meant by each response or what came to mind when they were asked each question

Question 24

What is a major strength of survey research?

Answer 24

external validity

Question 25

True of False: Survey research has low internal validity

Answer 25

True