Survey Research Design Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages by Muhammad Yousuf Ali
Survey Research Designed
Survey research designs are procedures in quantitative research in which investigators administer a survey to a sample or to the entire population of people to describe the attitudes, opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of the population.
Characteristics of Survey Research
There are for four Key Characteristics define by (Creswell, 2008)
a. Sampling from a population
b. Collecting data through questionnaires or interviews
c. Designing instruments for data collection
d. Obtaining a high response rate
a. Sampling from a population:-
Survey researchers select and study a sample from a population and generalize results from the sample to the population.
b. Collecting data through questionnaires or interviews
Survey researchers typically collect data using two basic forms: questionnaires and interviews. There are different types of questionnaire i.e., and interviews.
c. Designing instruments for data collection A survey instrument is available to measure your variables. You might also consider modifying an existing instrument. Otherwise you can create your own instrument.
d. Obtaining a high response rate
Survey researchers seek high response rates from participants in a study so that they can have confidence in generalizing the results to the population under study.
Advantage of Survey Research
- Relatively easy to administer
- Can be developed in less time (compared to other data-collection methods)
- Cost-effective, but cost depends on survey mode
- Can be administered remotely via online, mobile devices, mail, email, kiosk, or telephone.
- Conducted remotely can reduce or prevent geographical dependence
- Capable of collecting data from a large number of respondents
- Numerous questions can be asked about a subject, giving extensive flexibility in data analysis
- With survey software, advanced statistical techniques can be utilized to analyze survey data to determine validity, reliability, and statistical significance, including the ability to analyze multiple variables
- A broad range of data can be collected (e.g., attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values, behavior, factual).
- Standardized surveys are relatively free from several types of errors
Disadvantages of Survey Research
- Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers
2. Respondents may not feel comfortable providing answers that present themselves in a unfavorable manner.
3. Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given answer because of lack of memory on the subject, or even boredom.
4. Surveys with closed-ended questions may have a lower validity rate than other question types.
5. Data errors due to question non-responses may exist. The number of respondents who choose to respond to a survey question may be different from those who chose not to respond, thus creating bias.
6. Survey question answer options could lead to unclear data because certain answer options may be interpreted differently by respondents. For example, the answer option “somewhat agree” may represent different things to different subjects, and have its own meaning to each individual respondent. ‘Yes’ or ‘no’ answer options can also be problematic. Respondents may answer “no” if the option “only once” is not available.
7. Customized surveys can run the risk of containing certain types of errors
References: –
Creswell, John W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Cite this Article
M.Y. Ali (03 Jan2021). Survey Research Design Characteristics, Advantage and Disadvantage. https://profileusuf.wordpress.com/advantage-and-disadvantage-of-survey-design/
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