IREL 561: Research Methods

1
IREL 561 Research Methods

• Fall 2013
• Week 8
• Based largely on Neumans Basics of Social
  Research, Chapter 7
• Prepared by
• Craig Webster, Ph.D.

2
Questions Appropriate for a Survey

• Behavior
• Attitudes/beliefs/opinions
• Characteristics
• Expectations
• Self-classification
• Knowledge

3
Steps in Conducting a Survey

1. Develop hypotheses, decide on type of survey,
   white survey questions, decide on response
   categories, design layout
2. Plan hot to record data, pilot test survey
   instrument
3. Decide on target population, get sampling frame,
   decide on sample size, select sample,
4. Locate respondents, conduct interviews, carefully
   record data
5. Enter data into computers, recheck all data,
   perform statistical analysis on data
6. Describe methods and findings in research report,
   present finding to others for critique and
   evaluation

4
Constructing the Questionnaire

• Effective survey questions
• Keep it clear
• Keep it simple
• Keep the respondents perspective in mind

5
The art of Question Writing

• Avoid jargon, slang, and abbreviations
• Avoid ambiguity, confusion, and vagueness
• Avoid emotional language
• Avoid prestige bias
• Avoid double-barreled questions
• Do not confuse beliefs with reality
• Avoid leading questions
• Avoid asking questions that are beyond the
  respondents capabilities
• Avoid false premises
• Avoid asking about intentions in the distant
  future
• Avoid double negatives
• Avoid overlapping or unbalanced response
  categories

6
Types of Questions and Response Categories

• Threatening questions
• Socially desirable questions
• Knowledge questions
• Skip or contingency questions

7
Open versus Closed Questions

• Advantages and Disadvantages to both

8
Wording Issues

• The language of a questions may have a great deal
  of impact on the responses

9
Questionnaire Design Issues

• Length of survey or questionnaire
• Question order or sequence
• Organization of questionnaire
• Order effects
• Context effects

10
Types of Surveys

• Mail and Self-administered questionnaires
• Web surveys
• Telephone interviews
• Face-to-face interviews

11
Interviewing

• Role of the Interviewer
• Stages of an Interview
• Training Interviewers
• Interviewer bias
• Computer-assisted telephone interviewing