Research Methods 05 MCQs

Study Notes

Overview of Surveys

Surveys are a research method used to gather information about a group or phenomenon.
Surveys can be used to support or disprove arguments and hypotheses.
Surveys can be qualitative or quantitative, depending on the question type.

Types of Surveys

Micro-studies: Survey all members of a target group, potentially multiple times. Example: Survey of students in a Research Methods course.
Macro-studies: Survey a sample of a target group, aiming for representativeness. Example: Survey of UAE residents.

Sampling Methods

Probability Sampling: Random selection of respondents with an equal chance of being chosen.
- Simple Random Sampling: Randomly selecting from a population, such as dialing numbers from a phonebook.
- Systematic Sampling: Randomly selecting a starting point and then selecting every nth element. Example: Choosing a random page in a phonebook and then selecting every tenth entry.
- Stratified Sampling: Dividing the sample into subgroups and randomly selecting respondents within each group.
- Cluster Sampling: Survey a cluster or group of individuals, such as a household.
Non-Probability Sampling: Not based on random selection.
- Quota Sampling: Aiming to interview a specific quota of people from different subgroups.
- Targeted Sampling: Targeting specific individuals, such as elites or known experts.

Survey Design Considerations

Number of Questions: Be mindful of the number of questions.
Order of Questions: Consider the order of the questions.
Response Format:
- Open-ended Questions: Can be difficult to quantify and analyze.
- Closed-ended Questions: Force respondents to choose from a set of options.
- ‘Don’t know’/‘Other’ Option: Provide an option for uncertainty or responses not included.
Avoid:
- Leading Questions: Questions that suggest a desired answer.
- Double-barreled Questions: Questions that combine multiple ideas into one.
- Difficult or Jargon-filled Questions: Avoid using complex or technical language.

Survey Delivery Methods

Face-to-face: Best for getting detailed responses.
Telephone: Second best, but lacks facial cues.
Postal: Low response rate and often seen as junk mail.
Email: Similar to postal, respondents have time to think, but response rate can still be low.
Internet Mailout/Pop-up: More efficient for closed-ended questions, often higher response rate. Open-ended answers tend to be filled out by those with strong opinions.

Quantifying Survey Outcomes

Descriptive Analysis: Summarizing data with descriptive statistics.
Analytical Analysis: Examining relationships between variables.
Bivariate Analysis: Examining the relationship between two variables.
Multivariate Analysis: Examining the relationship between multiple variables.
Open-ended Questions: Analyse themes and patterns within open-ended responses.

Biases in Survey Results

Heisenberg Effect: Respondents may change their behavior when they know they are being observed.
Consistency Bias: Respondents may attempt to remain consistent with their initial responses.
Acquiescence Bias: Tendency to agree with statements, especially among those with weaker attitudes.
Non-Attitudes: Lack of true opinions or knowledge on a particular issue.
Survey Format Biases: Format, time of day, environment can all influence response bias.

Limitations of Surveys

True Opinions: Difficult to determine true opinions or facts from surveys.
Neutral Surveys: Achieving a truly neutral survey is challenging.

Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of surveys as a research method. It explores the types of surveys, including micro-studies and macro-studies, as well as various sampling methods such as probability sampling. Test your knowledge on how surveys can be utilized in different contexts.