Designing surveys: a guide to decisions and procedures

Abstract

Series Foreword Preface Chapter 1. An Introduction to Surveys and to This Book The Practice of Survey Research The Uses of Surveys Overview of the Survey Process A Brief Summary of This Book Chapter 2. Stages of a Survey Stage 1: Survey Design and Preliminary Planning Stage 2: Pretesting Stage 3: Final Survey Design and Planning Stage 4: Data Collection Stage 5: Data Coding, Data-File Construction, Analysis, and Final Report Example of a Time Schedule for a Study Chapter 3. Selecting the Method of Data Collection Evaluating the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Four Survey Methods Mail Surveys Internet Surveys Telephone Surveys Face-to-Face Surveys Combinations of Methods Chapter 4. Questionnaire Design: Writing the Questions Questionnaire Design as Process Factors in Questionnaire Development Writing Questions Chapter 5. Questionnaire Design: Organizing the Questions Introducing the Study What Questions Should the Questionnaire Begin With? Grouping Questions into Sections Questionnaire Length and Respondent Burden Avoiding Other Flaws in Mail Questionnaire Design Chapter 6. Questionnaire Design: Testing the Questions Importance of Respondents' Comprehension of and Ability to Answer Questions Conventional Pretests and Interviewer Debriefings Post-Interview Interviews Behavior Coding A Note on Intercoder Reliability Cognitive Interviews Respondent Debriefing Expert Panel Examining Interviewer Tasks Revising and Retesting: Deciding Which Pretest Problems to Address Deciding How Much Testing Is Enough Pilot Tests Combined Methods Some Last Advice Chapter 7. Designing the Sample The Basics Defining the Population Constructing a Sampling Frame Matching Defined Populations and Sampling Frames Recognizing Problems with Sampling Frames Determining Sample Size Hypothesis Testing and Power Using Census Data Chapter 8. Selecting a Sample Example 1: A Community List-Assisted Telephone Sample Example 2: A Directory-Based Community Telephone Sample Example 3: Other RDD Telephone Samples Selecting Respondents within Households Example 4: A List Sample of Students Example 5: A Sample of University Classes Chapter 9. Reducing Sources of Error in Data Collection The Origins of Error Chapter 10. Special Topics Ethical Issues in Survey Research The Methodology Report The Utility of the Methodology Report What to Include in the Methodology Report Costs and Contingencies: Planning for the Unexpected For Further Study: Suggested Readings Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Glossary/Index