The survey Flashcards
What is a survey?
A survey is a type of research strategy based on large number of units, large number of variables and standardised measurements.
RA of the survey
Descriptive, Testing, Diagnosis
What is the mostly used method in a survey?
A questionnaire, this can be written or oral with open or closed-ended questions
How to formulate a questionnaire?
(5 steps)
- Formulate items (how)
Clear & accurate questions
No use of theoretical jargon
No leading questions
Answers should be mutually exclusive. - Pilot test (send the questionnaire to a small sample)
Technical quality - Send the questionnaire to the larger sample
- Collect and analyse the data
- Respondents Report
The questionnaire in deductive research
The variables are taken from the theoretical framework
The questionnaire’s layout
- Introduction
RA and what is intended to study
Instructions of how to answer
Data usage agreement - Routing
Logical layout of the questions - Closing
Operationalisation
(Internal Validity)
The researcher needs to make sure the items are well conceptualised.
There shouldn’t be leading questions
This threatens internal validity since the researcher might not have followed the plan/correct procedures.
*To prevent this carry out a Pilot Test
Non-Response
(External Validity)
When not all participants respond to the questionnaire.
The sample becomes smaller which might prevent correct conclusions of the findings.
This threatens External Validity because the population isn’t represented enough due to a small sample.
*To prevent this have a sample large enough, send the questionnaire twice, put an incentive.
Answer Tendencies
Respondents fall under Social Desirability leading them to answer how they think the researcher would like.
The answers are then bias and not objective enough
*To prevent this take into account Social Desirability and formulate reversed items (asking the same in a +/- way).
