Online Survey Platforms for Criminal Justice Research" Quiz

Choosing an Online Survey Platform for Research in Criminal Justice

• Online survey platforms like Jotform, Microsoft Forms, and Survey Sparrow are available for criminal justice research.
• The choice of the most suitable survey platform depends on factors such as cost, time, audience, and researcher's skill level.
• Researchers should consider their convenience, skills, and their respondents' convenience and abilities when choosing a survey platform.
• Online survey software programs can significantly reduce survey costs by eliminating printing, mailing, and designing expenses.
• These programs offer prewritten questions and templates, incorporating AI technology for suggesting research best practices.
• Online surveying eliminates manual data collection and input, providing real-time insights into data collection and findings.
• Online surveys can reach more people faster than mailed or phone surveys and may generate more honest responses.
• Concerns include the representativeness of respondents, as those completing online surveys may not be representative of the general population.
• Despite the assistance in creating surveys, researchers still need skills in question development, answer development, layout, and research methods.
• Online survey platforms charge monthly, annually, or per respondent, potentially making the survey less inexpensive than expected.
• Researchers need to understand statistics to interpret the statistical analysis provided by online survey platforms and expand the statistics beyond those provided.
• Sample size is crucial, and researchers may need to identify a representative sample for their study, using various techniques to select the sample.

Challenges and Considerations in Using QDA Programs

• Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) programs are beneficial for organizing and reviewing large amounts of data efficiently, but they do not analyze or evaluate data at the depth required for qualitative research.
• Qualitative analysis is described as a heuristic process of collecting, searching, finding, connecting, and interpreting data, which QDA software cannot fully accomplish.
• QDA programs are unable to make deep connections between words and understandings that only humans can comprehend.
• The concern for the validity and reliability of findings in qualitative research arises from the nuanced differences in meanings and patterns in data, which QDA programs may not adequately capture.
• Researchers relying solely on QDA coding may find that repeated research does not yield the same results, raising questions about measurement and consistency.
• Security concerns have been raised regarding QDA programs, as data is often stored on their servers or third-party cloud servers, potentially posing a risk of unauthorized access.
• Compatibility issues exist among QDA programs, as they do not share common terminology, making it complicated for researchers to work across different platforms.
• Online research tools offer speed and accuracy in performing routine operations and facilitate global data sharing, but researchers must balance their advantages and disadvantages.
• Researchers should be cautious about considering computer-generated data as unquestionable, as the value of data depends on the skills of the researcher in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting them.
• The use of complex software programs like SPSS, NVivo, and QDA programs does not eliminate the risk of overestimation or misrepresentation, and the data's value is reliant on the research design and execution.
• The internet, while advantageous for speed and accessibility, is not a substitute for thorough scholarly research, and caution is advised in evaluating the credibility of online information.
• Reputable online sources, including journals, abstracts, and certain websites, can provide legitimate information and references for research.