Involves interviews with a large number of respondents using a predesigned questionnaire
-Standardization -Ease of administration -Ability to tap the "unseen" (bc it's not easy to observe certain variables such as income or political party) -Sensitivity to subgroup differences -Suitability to tabulation and statistical analysis
Alternative Data Collection Methods
-Person-administered: an interviewer reads questions, either face-to-face or over the phone, to the respondent and records his or her answers -Computer-administered: computer technology plays an essential role in the interview work -Self-administered: the respondent completes the survey on his or her own (Traditional "paper & pencil" survey) -Mixed Mode: a combination of two or more methods
Person-Administered Surveys: Advantages
-Feedback (surveyor can take notes on reactions) -Rapport (make people feel more comfortable/at ease) -Quality control (verify that the person is who they say they are) -Adaptability (explanation)
Person-Administered Surveys: Disadvantages
-Humans make errors -Slow speed -High cost -Interview evaluation
Apprehensive they are answering the question "correctly." Feel they are being "evaluated." Especially a problem with sensitive topics such as hygiene, finances, political opinions, etc.
Ex.
if a male asks a female about her sex life (any situation where one might be judged)
Computer-Administered Surveys: Advantages
-Speed -Error-free interviews -Use of pictures, videos, and graphics -Real-time capture of data -Reduction of "interview evaluation" concern in correspondents (more comfortable talking about uncomfortable things) -High response rates
Computer-Administered Surveys: Disadvantages
-Technical skills required -High set-up costs
Self-Administered Surveys: Advantages
-Reduced cost -Respondents control pace at which they answer -No interview-evaluation apprehension
Self-Administered Surveys: Disadvantages
-Respondent controls the survey - does not send in on time or does not send in at all -Lack of monitoring: no one to explain or encourage respondents -High questionnaire requirements...it must be perfect! (able to skip questions)
Types of Person-Administered Surveys
-Mall-Intercept Interview -In-Office Interview -Central Location Telephone Interviews
Person-Administered Surveys - Mall-Intercept Interview (definition)
Shoppers in a mall are approached and asked to take part in the survey. Questions may be asked in the public area of the mall or in the mall-intercept company's facilities located in the mall.
Person-Administered Surveys - Mall-Intercept Interview (Facts)
Key Advantage: -Fast and convenient data collection method Key Disadvantages: -Only mall patrons are interviewed (not a good mixture) -Respondents may feel uncomfortable answering the questions in the mall Comment: -Mall-intercept company often has exclusive interview rights for the mall
Person-Administered Surveys - In-Office Interview (definition)
The interviewer makes an appointment with business executives or managers to conduct the interview at the respondent's place of work
Person-Administered Surveys - In-Office Interview
Key Advantage: -Useful for interviewing busy executives Key Disadvantages: -Relatively high cost per interview -Gaining access is sometimes difficult Comment: -Useful when respondents must examine prototypes or samples of products
Person-Administered Surveys - Central Location Telephone Interviews (definition)
Interviewers work in a data-collection company's office using cubicles or work areas for each interviewer. Often the supervisor has the ability to "listen in" to interviews and to check that they are being conducted correctly.
Person-Administered Surveys - Central Location Telephone Interviews (Facts)
Key Advantages: -Fast turnaround -Good quality control -Reasonable cost Key Disadvantages: -Restricted to telephone communication (not good for open-ended questions) Comment: -Long-distance calling is not a problem
Computer-Administered Surveys
Key Advantages: -Computer eliminates human interviewer error -Simultaneous data input to computer file -Good quality control Key Disadvantages: -Setup cost can be high
Types of Computer-Administered Surveys
-Computer-Assisted Interview Type (not online) -Online Questionnaire
Computer-Administered Surveys - Computer-Assisted Interview Types (not online)
Key Advantages: -Respondent responds at his or her own pace -Computer data file results Key Disadvantages: -Respondent must have access to a computer or be computer literate Comment: -Many variations and an emerging data collection method with exciting prospects
Computer-Administered Surveys - Online Questionnaire (definition)
Respondents fill out a questionnaire that resides on the Internet, or otherwise accesses it via the Internet, such as receiving an email attachment, or downloads the file online.
Computer-Administered Surveys - Online Questionnaire (facts)
Key Advantages: -Ease of creating and posting -Fast turnaround -Computer data file results Key Disadvantages: -Respondent must have access to the internet Comment: -Fastest growing data collection method (the industry standard); very flexible; online analysis available
Types of Self-Administered Surveys
-Group Self-Administered -Drop-off Survey -Mail Survey
Self-Administered Surveys - Group Self-Administered Survey (definition)
Respondents take the survey in a group context. Each respondent works individually, but they meet as a group; this allows the researcher to economize.
Self-Administered Surveys - Group Self-Administered Survey (facts)
Key Advantages: -Cost of interviewer eliminated -Economical for assembled groups of respondents Key Disadvantages: -Must find groups and secure permission to conduct the survey Comment: -Group discourages asking questions
Self-Administered Surveys - Drop-off Survey (definition)
Questionnaires are left with the respondent to fill out. The administrator may return at a later time to pick up the completed questionnaire, or it may be mailed in.
Self-Administered Surveys - Drop-off Survey (facts)
Key Advantages: -Cost of interviewer eliminated -Appropriate for local market surveys Key Disadvantages: -Generally not appropriate for large-scale national survey Comment: -Many variations exist with respect to logistics and applications
Self-Administered Surveys - Mail Survey (definition)
Questionnaires are mailed to prospective respondents, who are asked to fill them out and return them by mail.
Self-Administered Surveys - Mail Survey (facts)
Key Advantages: -Economical method -Good listing companies exist -Very cheap Key Disadvantages: -Low response rates (under 20% of people respond) -Self-selection bias (if you're not interested in the topic, why would you respond?) and slow Comment: -Many strategies to increase response rate exist
Mixed-Mode (Hybrid) Surveys
-Mixed-mode surveys use multiple data collection methods -It has become increasingly popular to use mixed-mode surveys in recent years
Mixed-Mode (Hybrid) Surveys: Advantages
-Multiple advantages to achieve data collection goal... -Example: May use online surveys to quickly reach portion of population with Internet access and may use telephone calling to reach those without Internet access
Mixed-Mode (Hybrid) Surveys: Disadvantages
-Mode affects response? -Additional complexity
-The survey data collection time horizon -If speed needed, use telephone; online surveys becoming more popular due to speed -The survey data collection budget -Mail is cheapest -Special considerations -If respondent must see, feel, taste...use some form of personal interview
In selecting a data collection mode, the researcher balances quality against: -Incidence rate: (% of population that possesses the certain characteristics you need them to have in order to be relevant to the survey) screen by online or telephone -Cultural/infrastructure considerations: Scandanavia; dislike strangers in homes. Canada is more open. In India, < 10% have phones.