9. Survey

Conducting surveys

• • Involve asking people a set of pre-planned questions (questionnaire) to gather data on people’s behaviour, needs and opinions

  • Can be conducted face-to-face (interviews) or through electronic means (emails or online survey forms)

  • Conducting interviews help clarify any doubts with participants immediately

  • However, more participants can be reached within a shorter time using emails and online survey forms

  • Should contain only questions relevant to investigation

  • After constructing the questionnaire, test it on a few people before conducting the actual survey

  • Questions that are unclear need to be revised

Use a questionnaire to conduct an interview

GUIDELINES

1. Greet the respondent

2. Introduce yourself and smile

3. State the purpose of the interview and the estimated time needed

Do not give too much information about your questionnaire.

4. Check that the respondent is willing to do the interview before proceeding

5. Be polite

6. Jot down the responses

7. Ask questions to clarify your doubts

8. Do not pass comments or make faces at the responses

9. Thank the respondent after completing the interview

Advantages

• • Data will be up-to-date and often are not available from secondary sources

  • Can be conducted quickly and easily using electronic means

Disadvantages

• • Results may not be accurate as respondents may not give truthful answers

  • May be insufficient in gathering certain kinds of information (e.g. feelings)