Foundations of Sociological Inquiry

Survey Research

Today’s Objectives 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….

1st Choice 2nd 3rd Total points

4. Innocence 6 14 12 58

156 students completed the survey for 30 extra credit points! And the Winners are….

1st Choice 2nd 3rd Total points

4. Innocence 6 14 12 58

3. Fear of Crime 9 9 15 60

156 students completed the survey for 30 extra credit points! And the Winners are….

1st Choice 2nd 3rd Total points

4. Innocence 6 14 12 58

3. Fear of Crime 9 9 15 60

2. Body Image 9 15 9 66

156 students completed the survey for 30 extra credit points! And the Winners are….

1st Choice 2nd 3rd Total points

4. Innocence 6 14 12 58

3. Fear of Crime 9 9 15 60

2. Body Image 9 15 9 66

1. Organizational Habits 28 24 21 153

Ethics and Human Subjects Voluntary Participation DO NO HARM Anonymity & Confidentiality

When is survey research the best method available?

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1. when collecting original data

2. when describing a population too large to observe directly

3. when measuring attitudes

4. all of the above

Topics for Survey Research 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 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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1. Open-ended

2. Pre-test

3. Experimental

4. Close-ended

How to Ask Questions Open-Ended Questions

questions for which the respondent is asked to provide his/her own answers.

Close-Ended Questions survey questions in which the respondent is asked to

select an answer from a list provided by the researcher.

Questionnaire Construction Ordering Items in a Questionnaire

Appearance Open-Ended or Closed-Ended First?

Questionnaire Instructions Introductory comments and clear instructions

Pre-testing the Questionnaire

As a general rule, a questionnaire should be:

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1. spread out

2. uncluttered

3. relevant

4. all of the above

Types of Surveys 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

Strengths Useful in describing large populations Surveys are flexible Standardized questions

Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research Strengths

Useful in describing large populations Surveys are flexible Standardized questions

Weaknesses Round pegs in square holes Seldom deal with context of social life Inflexible Artificial Weak on validity

Questions?