Foundations of Sociological Inquiry
Survey Research
Today’s Objectives
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And the Winners Are….
Ethics and Human Subjects
Topics for Survey Research
How to Ask Questions
Questionnaire Construction
Types of Surveys
Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research
Questions?
156 students completed the survey for 30
extra credit points! And the Winners are….
1st Choice
2nd
3rd
Total points
156 students completed the survey for 30
extra credit points! And the Winners are….
4. Innocence
1st Choice
6
2nd
14
3rd
12
Total points
58
156 students completed the survey for 30
extra credit points! And the Winners are….
4. Innocence
3. Fear of Crime
1st Choice
6
9
2nd
14
9
3rd
12
15
Total points
58
60
156 students completed the survey for 30
extra credit points! And the Winners are….
4. Innocence
3. Fear of Crime
2. Body Image
1st Choice
6
9
9
2nd
14
9
15
3rd
12
15
9
Total points
58
60
66
156 students completed the survey for 30
extra credit points! And the Winners are….
4.
3.
2.
1.
1st Choice
Innocence
6
Fear of Crime
9
Body Image
9
Organizational Habits
28
2nd
14
9
15
24
3rd
12
15
9
21
Total points
58
60
66
153
Ethics and Human Subjects
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Voluntary Participation
DO NO HARM
Anonymity & Confidentiality
When is survey research the best method
available?
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4.
when collecting
original data
when describing a
population too large
to observe directly
when measuring
attitudes
all of the above
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4
Topics for Survey Research
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Birth, Death, Migration
Marriage, Divorce, Childbearing
Attitudes about War, Peace
Political Behavior, Involvement in Social Movements
Criminal Behavior, Contact with the Criminal Justice
System, the Courts
Organizational Behavior
Employment, Wages
Education, Use of Technology, Skills
Attitudes/behaviors about Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll
How to Ask Questions
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Select appropriate question forms.
Make items clear.
Avoid double-barreled questions.
Respondents must be competent to answer.
Respondents must be willing to answer.
Questions should be relevant.
Avoid negative items.
Avoid biased items and terms.
_____ questions have a respondent select
an answer from a list provided.
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Open-ended
Pre-test
Experimental
Close-ended
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How to Ask Questions
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Open-Ended Questions
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questions for which the respondent is asked to
provide his/her own answers.
Close-Ended Questions
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survey questions in which the respondent is asked to
select an answer from a list provided by the
researcher.
Questionnaire Construction
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Ordering Items in a Questionnaire
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Questionnaire Instructions
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Appearance
Open-Ended or Closed-Ended First?
Introductory comments and clear instructions
Pre-testing the Questionnaire
As a general rule, a questionnaire should
be:
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2.
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spread out
uncluttered
relevant
all of the above
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Types of Surveys
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Self-administered (mail out – mail back)
Telephone
 Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing
(CATI)
In person interviews
 Computer-Assisted Survey Interview (CASI)
Online surveys
Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research
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Strengths
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Useful in describing large populations
Surveys are flexible
Standardized questions
Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research
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Strengths
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Useful in describing large populations
Surveys are flexible
Standardized questions
Weaknesses
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Round pegs in square holes
Seldom deal with context of social life
Inflexible
Artificial
Weak on validity
Questions?