Survey Research

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Survey Research
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Research QuestionsSelf-Reported Beliefs
Behaviors

• Behavior
• Attitude/Beliefs/Opinions
• Characteristics
• Expectations
• Self-classification
• Knowledge

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Conducting a SurveyDesign Planning Phase

• Decide on type of survey.
• Develop questionnaire.
• Plan a system for recording answers.
• Pilot test the instrument.
• Draw the sample.

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Conducting a SurveyData Collection Phase

• Locate contact respondents.
• Introductory remarks/instructions.
• Ask questions and record answers.
• Thank respondent.
• End collection and organize.

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Constructing QuestionsSkill, Practice, Patience,
Creativity

• Avoid Jargon, slang, and abbreviations.
• Avoid ambiguity, confusion, and vagueness.
• Avoid emotional language and prestige bias.
• Avoid double-barreled questions.
• Avoid leading questions.

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Constructing Questions

• Avoid asking questions that are beyond
  respondents capabilities.
• Avoid false premises.
• Avoid asking about future intentions.
• Avoid double negatives.
• Avoid overlapping or unbalanced responses.

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• How often do you carry a method of
  self-protection such as pepper spray?
• Do you disagree that juveniles should not be
  tried as adults if they commit murder?
• Do you know anyone who has ever used cocaine?
• ___Yes ___ No ___ I have used cocaine

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• On the average, how much time do you spend on the
  job each week taking care of traffic violations?
• ___ Less than 1 hour
• ___ 1-3 hours
• ___ 3-6 hours
• ___ 6-10 hours
• ___ 10 hours or more

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Likert-Type Response Choices

• I think three-strikes laws that increase
  penalties for individuals convicted of three or
  more felonies will help to decrease the crime
  rate.
• 1 2 3 4
• Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly
• Agree Disagree

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• In what activity do you spend the most time in an
  average week on the job?
• ___ Traffic violations
• ___ Disturbance-related issues
• ___ Felony arrests
• ___ Misdemeanor arrests
• ___ Other, please specify_____________

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Filter Questions Skip Patterns

• 14. In the past 6 months, has anyone taken
  something from you by force or the threat of
  force?
• Yes (If yes, please answer question 15-16)
• No (If no, please skip to question 17)
• What was the approximate monetary value of the
  items taken?
• Under 50
• 51 to 99
• 100 to 299
• 300 to 500
• Over 500
• Was the incident reported to police?
• Yes No
• 17. How fearful are you of walking alone at night
  in your neighborhood?
• Extremely Afraid Afraid Unafraid Extremely
  Unafraid

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Open-Ended Questions

• In your opinion, what have been the benefits of
  the community policing program in your
  neighborhood?
• _________________________________________________
  __________________________________________________
  _______________
• Wealth of information
• Misinterpreted
• Difficulties in organizing and summarizing
• Missing data

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Fixed-Choice Questions

• Overall, would you say that personal safety in
  this country has improved since you were a child,
  gotten worse since you were a child, or stayed
  about the same?
• Improved
• Gotten Worse
• Stayed About the Same

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Confidentiality

• Surveys may include questions that might prove
  damaging to the subjects if their answers are
  disclosed.
• No one other than the researcher should have
  access to information that could be used to link
  respondents to their responses.
• Use numbers to identify respondents.
• If names are kept, place in a safe, private
  location.

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Anonymity

• No identifying information about respondents is
  obtained.
• Precludes follow-up
• Prevents panel designs
• In-person