Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Mauricio
CBA- LM
Prof. Operario
English 2
1. What is a survey ?
A survey is a data collection tool used to gather information about individuals. Surveys are
commonly used in psychology research to collect self-report data from study participants. A
survey may focus on factual information about individuals, or it might aim to collect the opinions
of the survey takers.
2. Types of Survey
A survey can be administered in a couple of different ways. Surveys may be conducted to gather
information through a printed questionnaire, over the telephone, by mail, in person, by diskette,
or on the web. This information is collected through use of standardized procedures so that every
participant is asked the same questions in the same way. It involves asking people for
information in some structured format. Depending on what is being analyzed, the participants
being surveyed may be representing themselves, their employer, or some organization to which
they belong. In one method of survey known as a structured interview, the researcher asks each
participant the questions. In the other method known as a questionnaire, the participant fills out
the survey on his or her own.
3. How Survey valid and Reliable ?
A reliable survey instrument is consistent; a valid one is accurate. For example, an instrument is
reliable if each time you use it (and assuming no intervention), you get the same information.
Reliability, or the consistency of information gathered by a survey, can be seriously imperiled by
poorly worded and imprecise questions and directions. If an instrument is unreliable, it is also
invalid, because you cannot obtain accurate findings with inconsistent data. A valid survey
instrument serves the purpose it is intended to serve and provides correct information. For
example, if a survey's aim is to find out about mental health, the results should be consistent with
other measures of mental health and inconsistent with measures of mental instability. A valid
instrument is always reliable, too. A reliable survey instrument is one that is relatively free of
measurement error, in which individuals obtained scores are different from their true scores.
4. How to formulate survey question?
Define Your Objectives. Figure out the decision or decisions you're trying to make to
focus your survey.
Work Backwards. Once you've set your objectives, determine the data you need to
gather in your survey to make your decision.
Check for Bias. Make sure you're not asking leading questions.
Do a Test Drive. Send your survey to friends and colleagues for a test run. They'll
help make sure your questions and response options are understandable and all your
survey logic works.
Collect Results and Analyze Data. This is where it gets really fun. The data rolling in
from your survey should help you decide what product to launch next, how to raise
more money at your next fundraiser, what to do to keep customers coming back, what
to serve at your next party and much more.
It is easy for online survey questionnaire participants to abandon the process, so you must
communicate up-front why they should help you with your questions. Failure to do so will
decrease the number of participants. The introduction should also include any instructions about
completing the survey questionnaire, and an estimate of how much time it will take.
Question types Based on your feedback objective you have to decide what types of questions
will give you the information you need.
Close. You can include text, instructions, or additional information at the end of your survey
questionnaire. Many surveyors find that the "Closing Text" option under Survey Details gives
them an easy way to thank their respondents for their time and effort.
Sources : http://srmo.sagepub.com/view/the-survey-handbook/n3.xml
http://psychology.about.com/od/researchmethods/f/survey.htm
https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CoverLetters.html