"Survey methodology is 'the study of survey methods'."
A research method that involves a standardized set of questions designed to elicit specific information from a large number of individuals about their beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, or experiences.
Types of surveys: This topic covers the various types of surveys such as cross-sectional, longitudinal, online, mail-in, telephone, face-to-face, and panel surveys.
Sampling methods: This topic covers the different sampling methods such as random sampling, stratified sampling, quota sampling, cluster sampling, and snowball sampling.
Questionnaire design: This topic covers the different components of a survey questionnaire such as format, length, types of questions, response options, skip patterns, and wording.
Data collection techniques: This topic covers the different data collection techniques such as paper surveys, online surveys, telephone surveys, and face-to-face surveys.
Data analysis: This topic covers the different ways of analyzing survey data such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and qualitative analysis.
Reliability and validity: This topic covers the concepts of reliability and validity in survey design and how to ensure that data collected is reliable and valid.
Ethical considerations: This topic covers the ethical considerations in survey research, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy.
Data management: This topic covers the different methods of managing survey data such as coding, data entry, verification, and cleaning.
Sampling error: This topic covers the concept of sampling error and how to minimize it in survey research.
Response rate: This topic covers how to calculate response rates and how to increase response rates in survey research.
Questionnaire survey: This type of survey involves a set of written questions that are given to individuals or groups to answer. The questions are usually fixed and the responses are often limited to a set of predetermined options.
Interview survey: In this type of survey, the researcher asks questions to participants in person. The questions are often more open-ended and the researcher can ask follow-up questions based on the responses.
Participant observation: This is a qualitative research method where the researcher immerses themselves in the culture or community they are studying. They observe and participate in activities to gain a deeper understanding of the people and their way of life.
Case study: This involves an in-depth examination of a particular individual, group, or community. The researcher gathers data from various sources such as interviews, observations, and archival material to create a holistic view of the subject.
Ethnography: This is a long-term study that involves living among a particular community or culture to understand their way of life, beliefs, and customs. The researcher usually engages in participant observation and interviews to gather data.
Cross-cultural survey: This type of survey involves comparing two or more cultures to identify similarities and differences. The researcher may use questionnaires, interviews, and observations to gather data.
Longitudinal survey: This is a study that tracks a group of individuals over a long period of time to understand how they change and develop over time. It involves data collection at multiple points in time.
Focus group: This involves bringing together a group of individuals to discuss a particular topic or issue. The researcher usually asks open-ended questions and encourages discussion among the participants.
Experimental survey: This is a controlled study where the researcher manipulates one or more variables to understand their effects on the participants. The researcher usually uses questionnaires and observations to gather data.
Comparative survey: This involves comparing two or more variables to understand their relationship. The researcher usually uses questionnaires and statistical analyses to gather data.
"As a field of applied statistics concentrating on human-research surveys, survey methodology studies the sampling of individual units from a population and associated techniques of survey data collection."
"Techniques of survey data collection, such as questionnaire construction and methods for improving the number and accuracy of responses to surveys."
"Researchers carry out statistical surveys with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population being studied."
"Such inferences depend strongly on the survey questions used."
"Polls about public opinion, public-health surveys, market-research surveys, government surveys, and censuses all exemplify quantitative research that uses survey methodology."
"Although censuses do not include a 'sample,' they do include other aspects of survey methodology, like questionnaires, interviewers, and non-response follow-up techniques."
"Surveys provide important information for all kinds of public-information and research fields, such as marketing research, psychology, health-care provision, and sociology."