This document discusses survey research and provides definitions and classifications of different types of research. It defines survey research as collecting data to test hypotheses or answer questions about people's opinions. There are two main types of survey designs: cross-sectional surveys, which collect data from individuals at a single point in time, and longitudinal surveys, which collect data over multiple times. Conducting a survey involves sampling from a population and collecting data through questionnaires or interviews. The document outlines best practices for designing and administering questionnaires and interviews for survey research.
2. DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH
• According to L.R.Gey (2011,p.05), research is defined as “the
formal, systematic application of the scientific method to the
study of problems”
• John W. Creswell (2012), has defined research as “ research is a
process of steps used to collect and analyze information to
increase our understanding of a topic or issue”
J.W.Best:
• Research is an intellectual activity which brings to light new
knowledge or correct previous errors and misconceptions and
adds in an orderly way to the existing corpus of knowledge.
3. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
• By Purpose
• Basic Research.
• Applied Research.
• Applied research further divided in to
• Action research
• Research and development
• Evaluation research
6. WHAT IS A SURVEY?
• According to L.R Gey(2011), “ A survey is an instrument to
collect data that describes one or more characteristics of a
specific population”.
• Types of Survey
• 1. Sample Survey. Researchers get information about a
population based on representative sample drawn from that
population.
• 2. Census Survey. In this survey researchers attempt to
acquire information from every member of a population.
7. SURVEY RESEARCH
• Definitions
• “Survey research involves collecting data to test hypotheses or
to answer questions about people’s opinions on some topic or
issue”(L.R.Gey,p.184).
• “Survey designs are the procedures in quantitative research in
which investigators administrator a survey to a sample or to
entire population of people to describe the attitudes, opinions,
behaviors, or characteristics of the
population”(J.W.Cresswell,p.376).
8. CONTINUE…
• J.W. Best (2016,p.121) says, “The survey is
an important type of study. It must not be
confused with the mere clerical routine of
gathering and tabulating figures. It involves a
clearly defined problem and definite
objectives. It requires expert and imaginative
planning, careful analysis and interpretation of
the data gathered, and logical and skillful
reporting of the findings”.
9. WHY DO WE CONDUCT SURVEY
RESEARCH?
This research is very important because, major purpose of this research is to
describe the characteristics of a population. It is important because information is
collected from a sample rather than from the every member of the population. It has
following advantages.
• Time saving.
• Solid result.
• Development of new knowledge.
• Individual’s interest.
• Unbiased.
• Awareness of problems.
• Development of new theories.
10. DESIGNS OF SURVEY RESEARCH
• Survey research generally come in one of the following two
designs.
• 1.Cross-Sectional Surveys.
• 2.Longitudinal Surveys.
11. CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEYS
A cross-sectional survey is one in which data are
collected from selected individuals at a single
point in time.
A snapshot of current behaviors, attitudes and
beliefs in population.
It Provides data relatively quickly.
It is not effective if the researcher’s goal is to
understand development over time.
12. LONGITUDINAL SURVEY
• In a longitudinal survey study , data are collected at two or
more times.
• It is extremely useful for studying a dynamics of a topic.
• It requires an extended commitment by the researcher and the
participants.
• Longitudinal studies can be categorized in to following four
types
• 1 A trend survey.
• 2 A cohort survey.
• 3 A panel survey.
• 4 A follow up survey.
13. CONTINUE....
1 A trend survey. It examines changes over times in a particular
population defined by some particular trait.
2 A cohort survey. It involves one population selected at a
particular time period.
3 A panel survey. It involves a sample in which the same
individuals are studies over time.
4 A follow up survey. It addresses change in previously studied
population.
14. CONDUCTING A SURVEY
RESEARCH
• .Whether a survey design is cross-sectional or longitudinal,
it engage in the following process.
• 1. Sampling from a population.
• 2. Collecting data through questionnaires or interviews.
15. SAMPLING FROM THE
POPULATION
• Population.
The group of people having one characteristic that
distinguishes them from other group (John W. Creswell,p.381).
Target Population.
It is the actual list of sampling units from which the
sample is selected(John W. Creswell,p.381).
Sampling.
It is a group of participants in a study selected from
the target population (John W. Creswell,p.381).
16. CONDUCTING A
QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY
• What is a questionnaire?
• According to L.R.Gey(2011,p.186), “A questionnaire is a
written collection of surveys questions to be answered by a
selected group of participants”
• A good questionnaire requires both skill and time.
• It should be easy, attractive and brief.
• The content and the format of the questionnaire should be
comprehensive.
17. TYPES OF QUESTIONNAIRE
• Most commonly, surveys consist of following ways.
• 1. Structured items( also called close-ended/multiple
choice items) format.
It requires a respondent to chose among the
provided options. Some times rating scale is also added with
the questions.
18. TYPES…
• 2. Unstructured/Open-Ended items format.
• In this format the respondent has complete freedom
of response. Respondent answer the question with his own
choice.
• Answer can be consist of one word, one sentence or one
paragraph.
19. PILOT TESTING OF
QUESTIONNAIRE
• Before distributing the questionnaire to participants, try it
out a pilot study.
• It provides information about deficiencies and suggestions
for improvement.
• All feedback provided should be carefully studied and
considered.
20. MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE
• It is a form of data collection in survey research in which
the investigator mail a questionnaire to the members of the
sample.
• It is a convenient way to reach a geographically dispersed
sample of a population.
21. WEB-BASED QUESTIONNAIRE
• A web –based questionnaire is a survey instrument for
collecting data that is available on computer.
• For this purpose several software programs are available for
designing, gathering and analyzing survey data.
22. INTERVIEWS
• An interview is a purposeful interaction in which one person
obtain information from another( L.R.Gey,p.386).
• It is very important technique when a researcher cannot get
the data through observation.
23. TYPES OF INTERVIEW
• Structured. Tight control over the questions and answers.
• Unstructured. Interviewee is free to share his/her ideas.
• Sami-Structured. A tightly controlled yet a bit flexible.
• One to One.
• Group interview
• Focus group
• Face to Face or through other electronic sources.
24. PREPARING A COVER LETTER
• A major component of a mailed questionnaire consist of a cover letter
inviting the participant to take part in the study and to complete the
instrument (John W. Cresswell,p.2012).
• The letter should explain.
Purpose of the study.
Significance of the study.
Importance of the participant.
25. NON-RESPONSE
• In almost all surveys, some members of the sample will not
respond. This is referred to as non-response.
• A good researcher fully tries to minimize the percentage of
non-response items.
26. TABULATING QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSES
• Its easiest way is to have participants mark responses data
on a scan-able answer sheet.
• If scan-able sheet are not an option, then each respondent’s
will have to be inter one by one into computer spread sheet.
• For qualitative data use the qualitative software programs
where advanced statistical analyses can be performed.
27. DATAANALYSIS IN SURVEY
RESEARCH
• A researcher follow the following steps for this purpose.
• Total size of the sample should be reported, along with the
overall percentage of return.
• The percentage of the total sample responding for each item
should then be reported.
• Finally, the percentage of respondents who chose each
alternative for each question should be given.