{"id":3096,"date":"2021-02-16T17:22:19","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T17:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-newpaltz-engcomp1\/?post_type=chapter&p=3096"},"modified":"2021-02-18T18:30:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T18:30:50","slug":"designing-surveys","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-newpaltz-engcomp1\/chapter\/designing-surveys\/","title":{"raw":"Designing Surveys","rendered":"Designing Surveys"},"content":{"raw":"

Surveys<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n\r\nUse a survey to collect general information from a large group of people. Surveys tend to be more quantitative than qualitative. This page discusses the benefits of surveys, the limitations, the types, and the \u201c3 C\u2019s\u201d \u00a0when creating surveys.\r\n

Benefits<\/h2>\r\nA survey is one of the more efficient ways of getting a large amount of data in a relatively short amount of time. If your research question is \u201cWhat do [insert demographic] think\/know about [insert idea, subject, event]?\u201d then probably a survey is a great place to start. For example: \u201cDo college students agree that a healthy lifestyle positively affects academic performance?\u201d or \u201cHow knowledgeable are elementary school teachers on bullying-prevention strategies?\u201d With the right questions and sample, you can get a good idea on how people of a certain population perceive the subject\/idea you are researching.\r\n

Limitations<\/h2>\r\nAny research method you choose will have limitations. A common limitation to surveys is the lack of \u201cfollow-up\u201d questions. For example, if you have 50 students take your survey and it\u2019s completely anonymous, it will be extremely difficult to follow-up with the subjects and ask more questions. On a related note, most surveys are multiple choice and\/or short answer, so the subject only has so much \u201cspace\u201d to express their opinions\/thoughts on the matter. If you are wanting more in-depth opinions\/thoughts on a subject, you will need to either format your survey to allow for that or do an interview instead.\r\n\r\nAnother limitation to consider is that your data will be self-reported, meaning that you have to rely on your subjects\u2019 answers. Several factors could influence your subjects\u2019 responses, either consciously or subconsciously, that may not be completely honest. Common reasons for unreliable data include your subjects wanting to portray themselves in a more positive light, your subjects may assume the \u201cpoint\u201d of the study and thus want the point to go their way even if their answers are not entirely honest, your subjects are embarrassed to reveal specifics about their life, or your subjects may not be aware of their own biases on certain subjects.\r\n

Question Types<\/h2>\r\nHere are a few types of questions you can use:\r\n\r\nMultiple-Choice Questions<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0This is a common type of question on surveys. Ask a question and\/or give a statement, and then the respondent has to choose from a list of answers. If the answer is based on opinion or preference (e.g., favorite types of music), it is best to give an \u201cOther\u201d answer option and a fill in the blank space.\r\n\r\nMatrix Questions<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/i>Along with multiple choice questions, there are matrix questions that use Likert-type scales. These are common in many social and applied science disciplines. Usually, the researcher gives one or more statements or questions (e.g., \u201cI enjoy listening to Beethoven,\u201d \u201cI enjoy listening to Mozart,\u201d etc.) and then the answers are in a Likert-type scale (e.g., Strongly Agree\/Agree\/Neither Agree Nor Disagree\/Disagree\/Strongly Disagree).\r\n\r\nShort Answers.\u00a0<\/strong>This is where qualitative and quantitative methods mix. The researcher gives either a closed-ended question (e.g., \u201cDid you enjoy\u00a0Star Wars<\/em>?\u201d) or an open-ended question (e.g. \u201cDid you enjoy\u00a0Star Wars<\/em>? Why or why not?\u201d) If the survey is on a piece of paper, the respondent has a finite space to answer. If the survey is online, most online surveys let the researcher choose the character limit for the text box response.\r\n

3-Cs: Clear, Consistent, & Concise<\/h2>\r\nYou want the survey and the responses to the survey to be clear, consistent, and concise. This is not only important for logistics (e.g., the subjects understanding the question, having clear data, etc.), but it is also important from an ethical standpoint. Whom you send the survey to, what types of questions you ask, and what kinds of answer-choices you give can skew your data one way or another, and knowingly doing this can be seen as unethical.\r\n

Be Clear<\/strong>.<\/h3>\r\nBe as clear and straightforward as possible for your subjects. Clarity is not only helpful for your respondents but is also helpful for you as well in understanding your data. Below are examples of unclear questions.\r\n\r\nDouble-Barreled Questions.<\/strong>\u00a0Avoid combination questions. The respondent may have a certain opinion for one part of the question, but a completely different opinion for the other. It is best to separate these, then, into two questions.\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n