This is a look at social research, within a community context. From sound academic footing, it is also suited for those new to conducting surveys academically or professionally. It presents the key points of consideration to plan, design and manage a qualitative research endeavour.

1. Doing Community Surveys
Remembering the Important Basics
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2. Introduction
What is Social (qualitative) Research?
Generally qualitative research is concerned with:
• Opinion gathering
• Enquiring about people not things
• Studies of life style
• Interpreting information gathered
• Written report, rather than statistical

3. Survey/ Questionnaires
Purpose
• Information sought from large numbers
• Information sought over large geographical area
• Information required is simple and factual
• To make generalisations, comparisons with other groups for
development

4. Start Considerations
Pre- Start
• Aim and Objective
• Time frame
• Population/ sample, sub- groups
• Response rate – increased, if inform research population prior
• Structure - enhance response rate
• Open or closed questions
• Processing questionnaires- how
• Analysing

5. Result Considerations
Pilot the questionnaire to test for suitability and errors. This can be
done by distributing questionnaires to a small percentage of the total
number.

6. Design Considerations
Remember
• No assumptions
• Avoid negative questions
• Sensitivity
• Length of questionnaire
• Avoid double barrel questions
• Avoid presumptive questions

7. Community Considerations
Distribution
• Person – Person?
• Postal questionnaire?- Include SAE and cover letter
• Both?
• Telephone
• On- line (eg. Survey Monkey)
Note
• Problems of language/literacy, ensuring your research population will
be able to read & understand the questions.

8. Finding out Considerations
Ideally questionnaires should feature 3 types of questions but this will be
dependant on the research question.
BIOGRGRAPHICAL: name age, gender, marital status
AUDIT/INFORMATIONAL: factual data, what actual experience (avoid yes/
no questions, weakest form of data)
OPINION/ATTITUDINAL: (views)
Note: Sequencing. It is important that questions are sequential & follow a
logical pattern.

9. Other Considerations
• *Ensure questionnaire produces information required
• Data Protection Act 1998 (UK)
• No responses
• Designing Questionnaire

10. Consider Problem Areas
• Closed questions - limited to researchers categories
• Leading questions
 Solution - pilot questionnaire
 Request 2nd opinion

11. Inspired by: Critical Thinking and Research Skills-
ILM Level 6 Award in Management