Describe the major types of surveys and indicate their major strengths and weaknesses

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A survey is a poll in which the researcher gathers facts or attempts to determine the relationships among facts. Surveys are often done when the researcher wants to describe, compare, and predict knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Surveys are the most widely used research method in the social sciences because they make it possible to study things that are not directly observable—such as people's attitudes and beliefs— and to describe a population too large to observe directly. Survey data are collected by using self-administered questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, and/or telephone interviews.

Self-administered questionnaires are relatively simple and inexpensive to administer, they allow for rapid data collection and analysis, and they permit respondents to remain anonymous. A major disadvantage is the low response rate. Face-to-face interviews are usually more effective in dealing with complicated issues and provide an opportunity for communication between the interviewer and the respondent. When open-ended questions are used, the researcher may gain new perspectives. A major disadvantage is the cost and time involved in conducting the interview and analyzing the resultsTelephone interviews save time and money. Some respondents may be more honest than when they are facing an interviewer. They also give greater control over data collection and provide greater personal safety for respondents and researchers than do personal encounters. Problems include the increasing number of unlisted telephone numbers, people's widespread use of answering machines, voice mail, and caller ID to filter their incoming telephone calls.