Surveys-Questionnaires

A survey is a way of collecting information from a large and dispersed group

of people rather than from the very small number, which can be dealt with through
interviews. It may combine quantitative data with qualitative data or only use
quantitative. Surveys often use questionnaires with closed questions to collect data
because it is easier to do statistical analysis of such data. One example is a Likert
Scale that asks a participant whether something is never, seldom, sometimes, often
or always true. It may also ask if they strongly disagree, disagree, have no opinion,
agree or strongly agree. Sometimes more open-ended questions are used for data
collection. A face-to-face approach to administering surveys allows for clarifications
if the respondent does not understand questions; this may yield more reliable
answers but takes more time.
One advantage of a survey is that it is a relatively simple and straightforward
approach to the study of, e.g. attitudes, beliefs and motives, and it can be extremely
efficient at providing large amounts of data at a relatively low cost, in a short
period of time. Sometimes interviews can supplement survey data to provide a
more in-depth understanding of certain questions.
Many empirical studies use questionnaires to collect data. Surveys use self-
report data like the interview. Self-reporting may be biased because people do not
always tell the truth. Questionnaires may also be vulnerable to response bias just
like the interview- that is many people adjust their responses so as to give the
“right answer” to the researcher. Therefore, questionnaires need to be carefully
planned and designed. If they are, they may reveal useful information.