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Chapter 6. Surveys and Sampling. Surveys. Survey – a series of self-report measures administered through either an interview or a written questionnaire. The most widely used method of collecting descriptive information about a group of people. Surveys.
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Chapter 6 Surveys and Sampling
Surveys • Survey – a series of self-report measures administered through either an interview or a written questionnaire. • The most widely used method of collecting descriptive information about a group of people.
Surveys • The goal of a survey, as with all descriptive research, is to produce a “snapshot” of the opinions, attitudes, or behaviors of a group of people at a given time.
Survey by Interview • Questions are read to a respondent: Telephone Face-to-Face
Free-Format Interviews • In an Unstructured Interview the interviewer talks freely with the person being interviewed about many topics. • Focuses on topics the respondent is most interested in or knowledgeable about. Individual Respondents Focus Groups Qualitative Open-Ended Questions
Fixed-Format Interviews • Because researchers usually want more objective data, the Structured Interview, which uses quantitative fixed-format items, is most common. Highly Structured All Questions Prepared Ahead of Time Closed-Ended Questions Quantitative
Questionnaires • A Questionnaire is a set of fixed-format, self-report items that is completed by respondents at their own pace, often without supervision. • Less expensive than interviews • Websites and Mail • Appearance of greater anonymity for respondents • May produce greater honesty from respondents
The Response Rate • Response Rate – the percentage of people who actually complete the questionnaire and return/send it to the researcher. • A low response rate may lead to incorrect conclusions (different populations?) • Some incentivize with gifts or monetary payments
Question Order • “How satisfied are you with your relationships with your family?” • “How satisfied are you with your relationship with your spouse?” • If answered out of order… • May lead to Measurement Error
Use of Existing Survey Data • U.S. Census (every 10 years) • General Social Survey (U.S. sample every year) • Human Area Relations Files (International)
Sampling and Generalization • Measure an entire Population to get a Census • Measure a Subset of a Population and you have a sample
Representative Sample • A Representative Sample is one that is approximately the same as the population in every important respect.
Simple Random Sampling • For Simple Random Sampling, the goal is to ensure that every person in the population has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample. • Need a complete list of everyone in the population • Use random number generator
Sampling Bias • Sampling Bias – occurs when the sample is not actually representative of the population (because the probability with which members of the population have been selected for participation is not known).
Snowball Sampling • A few population members are contacted, and these individuals are used to lead the researcher to other population members. • Homeless • Underground Groups
Convenience Samples • Whomever is readily available.