Overview of Internet-Based Research (March 2009)

1. Internet-Based
Research
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2. Use of the Internet
 Using the Internet as a research method is
growing because of ―the speed, ease, and cost
of conducting an internet-based study‖ (Siah,
2005, p. 115).
 Internet surveys are more accurate than paper
and pencil surveys, and data collection and
processing is automatic and faster (Schaefer &
Dillman, 1998; Wright, Aquilino, & Supple,
1998).
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3.  Data collection is easier and more flexible to
control.
 Internet surveys mitigate ―non-response,
unpredictable uniformity on response, slow
replies, possible misinterpretation of questions,
and costly follow-up‖ (Hagen, 2003, p. 169).
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4. Major Issues
 The major issues surrounding Internet research
are:
 Confidentiality
 security issues
 response and dropout rates
 restricted access
 web survey design
(Andrews, Nonnecke, & Preece, 2003; Birnbaum, 2004; Oppermann, 1995; Siah, 2005; Truell, 2003)
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5. In response to these concerns:
 Links for the instrument uses automatic Secure
Socket Layer (SSL) encoding
 An industry standard encryption technology
 Ensures that no one else has access to the
data and provides another added layer of
security
 SSL technology encrypts data that passes
between servers, the end-user (researcher)
and survey respondents
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6. The survey, by design:
 Is ―in a logical sequence that is readable,
interesting, and easy to response to‖ (Hagan,
2003, p. 152).
 Assessment reliability can be reduced when
questions on instruments are confusing,
unclear, ambiguous, and procedures of
assessment are not standardized (Rudner,
1993).
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7. References
Andrews, D., Nonnecke, B., & Preece, J. (2003). Electronic survey methodology: A case study in
reaching hard-to-involve internet users. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction,
16(2), 185–210.
Birnbaum, M. H. (2004). Human research and data collection via the Internet. Annual Review of
Psychology, 55(1), 803-832.
Hagan, F. E. (2003). Research methods in criminal justice and criminology (6th ed.). New York: Allyn
and Bacon.
Oppermann, M. (1995). E-mail surveys—Potential and pitfalls. Marketing Research, 7(3), 29-33.
Sigh, C. Y. (2005). All that glitters is not gold: Examining the perils and obstacles in collecting data on
the internet. International Negotiation, 10, 115-130.
Schaeffer, D. R., & Dillman, D. A. (1998). Development of a standard e-mail methodology: Results of
an experiment. Public Opinion Quarterly, 62(3), 378-397.
Rudner, L. M. (1993). Test evaluation. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from http://www.ericae.net
Truell, A. D. (2003). Use of internet tools for survey research. Information Technology, Learning, and
Performance Journal, 21(1), 31-37.
Wright, D. L., Aquilino, W. S., & Supple, A. J. (1998). A comparison of computer-assisted and paper-
and-pencil self-administered questionnaires in a survey on smoking, alcohol, and drug use.
Public Opinion Quarterly, 62(3), 331-353.
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8. For more information on Internet-based research,
workload/time studies, and surveys, contact:
The Kipp Group, LLC
Consulting and Training
1246 Divot Drive
Shepherd Hills
Wescosville, Pennsylvania 18106-9620
Phone, Voice Mail & Fax: 610.398.9733
Web: kippgrp.homeip.net
Email: kippgrp@ptd.net