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Module Six    Survey Research
Module 6 Notes
  

Survey Research 
    This is research done for the purpose of collecting information from a large number of people. This research relies on self-reports and assumes that, given some degree of anonymity, people will respond honestly.

Types of Survey Research 
    There are three types 
    1. Simple descriptive 
    2. Longitudinal 
    3. Cross-Section

Survey Methods 
 
    There are three methods: mailed, telephone, and face-to-face. Some of the advantages and limitations are presented in the table below.   
Method
Cost
Anonymity
Honesty
Depth / Follow-up
Mailed
X
X
Telephone
X
Face-to-Face
X
X
X
 
    What response rate is acceptable depends on what you will do with the results. A typical response rate is 10%, 30% is considered good by most people who conduct survey research, however, 80% or better is considered acceptable by publishers of research.

Types of Survey Questions Asked 
    1. Demographic - describes your sample 
    2. Non-threatening Behavioral - scale of frequency and/or intensity 
    3. Threatening Behavioral - scale of frequency and/or intensity 
    4. Knowledge - scale of true / false 
    5. Attitude - scale of level of agreement 
 Levels of Measurement 

Refer to levels of measurement for a description.

Readings 
Read Chapter 5 (all)
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Updated last January 2002 by Roberta McKnight.   
Copyright 1999 Hewitt-Gervais 
All rights reserved.
Florida Gulf Coast University 
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