SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS

KINDS OF SURVEY - RESEACH

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CENSUS
-Complete enumeration where data are collected
for each & every unit.
SAMPLE SURVEYS
-Data are collected for the part of the universe

MERITS OF SAMPLE-SURVEY
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Less Time
Less Cost
More Reliable Results
More Detailed Information
Destructive Nature of Certain Tests

LIMITATIONS OF SAMPLE-SURVEY
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Should be carefully planned & executed else the results may

be inaccurate & misleading.

Sample-Survey generally requires services of experts. In
absence of qualified & experienced persons, information
obtained cannot be relied upon.
At times sampling plan maybe so complicated that it
requires more time, labour and money than a complete
count i.e. census.
If the information is required for each & every unit in the
domain of study, so at times complete enumeration survey
is necessary.

KINDS OF DATA FOR SURVEY RESEARCH

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PRIMARY DATA

-Primary data are those which are collected afresh and for
the first time, and thus happen to be original in character.
SECONDARY DATA

-Secondary data are those which have already been

collected by somebody else and which have already been
passed and which have already been passed through the
statistical process.

Methods of data collection

Secondary sources

Primary source

SECONDARY SOURCES

Documents

Govt. Publications
Earlier Research
Census
Personal Records

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

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PRIMARY SOURCES

Observation

Interview

Questionnaire

Case-Study

OBSERVATION METHOD
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It is systematically planned and recorded and is

subjected to checks and controls for reliability and

validity.
Useful for

Studies relating to Behavioural Sciences

Where the respondents cannot vocalise their feelings.

TYPES OF OBSERVATION
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Participant Observation
When the researcher participates in the activities of the group
being observed in the same manner as its members with or
without their knowing that they are being observed.
Non-Participant Observation
When the researcher does not get involved in the activities of
the group but remains a passive observer watching and
listening to its activities and drawing conclusions from this.

Observation Methods (Contd. )

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Advantages
Subjective bias is
eliminated
Information obtained
relates to what is currently
happening & not to the
past behaviour or future
intentions / attitudes
Independent of
Respondents
willingness / Inability to
respond.

Disadvantages
An Expensive Method
Provide Limited

Information
Unforeseen Factors may
interfere with the
observational task.
At times some
respondents are rarely
accessible to direct
observation.

INTERVIEW METHOD
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Any person to person interaction between two or

more individuals for specific purpose in mind is

called interview.
Interview is commonly used method of collection

information form people.

Interview Method Contd.

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Advantages
Appropriate for complex

situation.
Useful for collecting indepth information.
Information can be
supplemented.
Questions can be
explained.
Has a wider application.

Disadvantages
Time-consuming
Expensive.
Quality of data depends

upon the

Quality of the interaction.

Quality of the interviewer.
Researchers bias etc., 13

Quality of data may vary

when many interviewers

are used.

QUESTIONNAIRE
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A Questionnaire is defined as written

list of questions, the answers to
which are recorded by the
respondents.
Designs of questionnaire is very
crucial & should be done with
wisdom.

CONSIDERATIONS IN
FORMULATING QUESTIONS
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Always use simple & Everyday Language.

Eg. Is anyone in your family dipsomaniac?

Do not use ambiguous questions

Eg. Are you satisfied with your canteen? (doesnt ask with aspects of the
canteen are satisfactory or dissatisfactory)

Do not ask double-barreled questions.

Eg. How often and how much time do you spend on each visit?

Do not ask Leading Questions.

Eg. Unemployment is increasing, isnt it?

Do not ask questions based on presumptions. First

ascertain whether or not a respondents fits into the

category about which a question is being asked.
Eg. How many cigarettes do you some a day?

Questionnaires Contd.
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Advantages

Versatile method as many of

the problems can be dealt

without difficulty.

Faster & cheaper than

observation method.

It offers Greater Anonymity.

Disadvantages
Respondents may not cooperate
to fill / return the questionnaires.
Wrong information can be
provided by the respondents esp.
for the personal questions like
income age etc.,
A question can be misinterpreted
and misunderstood by the
respondents
Lack of opportunity to clarify
issues.
Spontaneous responses are not
allowed for.
Response to a question may be
influenced by response to other
questions.
It is possible to consult others.
Response cannot be
supplemented with other
information.

SCHEDULES
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Schedules are like questionnaires

which are filled in by the enumerators

(investigators).
It is useful in extensive inquires and

can lead to fairly desirable results.

CHOOSING BETWEEN SCHEDULES &

QUESTIONNAIRE
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The Nature of the Investigation

If the research is on sensitive issues than Schedule should

be preferred.

The Geographical distribution of the Population

For largely scattered respondents, questionnaire method

is better.

The type of the study population

For illiterate, very young, very old, handicapped there

may be no option but to use schedule method.

CASE STUDY METHOD

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Used for qualitative analysis

Involves a careful & complete observation of the

social unit such as a person, a family, an institution,

a cultural group or an entire community.
Method of study is in-depth.
Puts emphasis on the full analysis of limited no. of
events or conditions.

CASE-STUDY (Contd.)
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Advantages
One can understand full the
bebaviour pattern of the
concerned unit.
A real & enlightened record of
personal experiences can be
obtained.
Helps in formulating relevant
hypotheses along with the data
which may be helpful in testing
them.
Facilitates intensive study of
social units with special
reference to historical analysis.
Increases analysis skills and
experience of the researcher.

Disadvantages
Case-situations are seldom
comparable.
Subjectivity of the researcher
can enter and hamper the
information collected in a casestudy.
Danger of false-generalization
is always there.
Time consuming & expensive
Sampling is not possible in a
case-study method.
Case-study assumptions may
not be very realistic at times.

SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESEARCH

METHODS
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The choice of a particular method depends on:

Purpose of collecting information.
The type of information being collected
Resources available to the researchers.
The skills of the researchers.
Socio-economic demographic characteristics of the study
population.
The choice of a particular method is important for

ensuring the quality of information.

The quality of information is dependents upon
several methodological, situational & respondents
related factors.