WEB SURVEY TECHNOLOGY
Patty Nordstrom
Project Manager
Survey “Research Center
The Pennsylvania State University
TYPES OF WEB SURVEYS
• Open
– Anyone can answer access the survey and
answer the questions
• Closed
– Unique IDs are assigned to individuals
Design of Web Surveys
Principles of Design for Web
Questionnaires (Dolman, Tortora, Bowker)
• Welcome screen
• First question should be easy to answer, but
interesting
• Conventional format similar to paper
• Limit line length
• Provide instructions for computer actions
Principles of Design for Web
Questionnaires (Dillman, Tortora, Bowker)
• Instructions with individual questions, not at
the beginning
• Do not force answers unless necessary
• Scrolling
• Progress bar
Principles of Design for Web
Questionnaires Dillman, Tortora(, Bowker)
• Screen by screen
– Only one question per page, respondent must
answer the questions before they can continue
• Scrolling
– Respondent can see, if not the entire questionnaire,
more than one question.
Principles of Design for Web
Questionnaires Dillman, Tortora(, Bowker)
•
•
Simple is better
Design should fit the purpose
Data Collection
• Data is collected in a table
• Provide the data in various formats
–
–
–
–
–
Database (.mdb)
SPSS (.sav)
Tab separated (.tsv, .txt)
Comma separated (.csv)
Excel (.xls)
Technical Consideration
Components for Web Survey
• Technical Expertise (programmers, network
administrators)
• Software (commercial or custom)
• Hardware
Software
• Commercial survey software
• Code by hand
Custom Programming
Advantages
• Can be customized
• No limited to survey features
• Complete control
Custom Programming
Disadvantages
• Takes longer to build/more expensive
• Requires expertise in web programming
(html, javascript, php, MySQL Cold Fusion)
• Big learning curve
Commercial Software
Advantages
• Inexpensive
• Experience and expertise, so no need for in
house expertise
• Provide necessary hosting hardware
(servers)
• Easy to use
Commercial Software
Disadvantages
• Hidden costs
• Variability in the degree of expertise of
consultants
• Limited flexibility in questionnaires by
templates
Commercial Software
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Zoomerang™
Survey Solutions
SuperSurvey
Greenfield Online
Infopoll
Perseus
PollCat
Inquisite
Cool Surveys
Survey System
Apian Software
Hosted Survey
SurveyView
StatPac
Example of Web
survey software
(Peresus)
Open blank questionnaire
Welcome Screen
Informed Consent
Add Survey Questions
Survey is uploaded to sever
Data is collected in a table
Data is downloaded for analysis