Chapter 14: Surveys Descriptive Exploratory Experimental Describe Explore Cause Populations Relationships and Effect Survey Research

Surveys One of the most popular ways for collecting descriptive data Composed of a series of questions posed to a group of subjects –Oral or written forms –May be intended: For generalization to a larger population As a description of a particular group

Surveys  Surveys are concerned with describing: Attitudes and values  Levels of knowledge or experience  Current practices  Characteristics of a special group

Surveys/Interview Interviews –Asking specific questions –Recording data for later analysis –Can take a few minutes or several hours –Can be conducted face-to-face or over the phone –Can be structured or unstructured

Survey/Interview Advantages: –Opportunity for in-depth analysis of respondent ’ s behaviors/opinions –Researcher can: Probe responses Observe respondent ’ s reactions –

Survey/Interview Disadvantages: –Cost and time –Need for personnel to carry out the interviews –Scheduling –Lack of anonymity

Surveys/Interview Format: –Structured Standardized set of questions All respondents are exposed to the same questions, in the same order Unstructured No fixed agenda, proceed informally to question and discuss issues of concern

Surveys/Questionnaires Structured surveys that are self- administered using pen and paper Advantages: –Data can be gathered from a large sample –In a wide geographical distribution –In a relative short period of time –Written standardized forms

Surveys/Questionnaires –All are exposed to the same questions in the same way –Respondents can take time to think –Anonymity and confidentiality are kept – Useful for examining phenomena that can be assessed through self-observation

Survey/Questionnaires Disadvantages: –Potential for misunderstanding or misinterpreting questions or response choice –Unknown accuracy or motivation of the respondents –Return rate (realistically 39%- 60%) –Self-report; recall bias

Design of Surveys The research Question –Validity: Questionnaire measures what it is expected to measure –Guiding questions (objectives) that delineate what the researcher is trying to find out –Descriptive questions –Address expected relationships (hypothesis/es)

Design of Surveys 1. Review of existing questionnaires 2. Writing a series of questions that address each behavior, knowledge, skill, or attitude reflected in the guiding questions/hypothesis/es 3. Preliminary draft is distributed to a panel of colleagues

Design of Surveys 4. Pilot testing and revisions 5. Administering of the survey 6. Cover letter Purpose Reason for being chosen Assurance for anonymity Suggest how long it may take to finish Provide a self addressed envelope Provide a deadline Thank respondents Sign and provide all names of investigators

Constructing Survey Questions Open-Ended questions –Advantages/Disadvantages Closed-Ended questions –Advantages/disadvantages Format of Closed-Ended questions Yes/no, 1. (Not at all important) 5. (Very important); 1. (No pain) 4. (severe pain)

Constructing Survey Questions Frequency and Time questions: –“ How many alcohol drinks do you consume per day ” –“ What is the maximum number of patients seen in a typical day? ” Dealing with sensitive questions

Surveys/Scales A scale is an ordered system based on a number of questions –Continuous Scale Summary Scores –Summative scale (all items have equal weight) –Cumulative scale (each item representing an increasing amount of the attribute being measured)

Surveys/Scales Likert Scales –A summative scale used to assess attitudes or values Five categories (SD=1; D=2; U=3; A=4; SA=5) Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) –Used to assess the intensity of a subjective experience No Pain_______________________As Bad as it can get

Surveys/Scales Q-Sort –Technique used to characterize attitudes, opinions, or judgments of individuals through the process of ranking –Cards are sorted according to specific criterion/a

Surveys/Data Analysis Open-Ended questions are “ coded ” Closed-Ended questions are coded Cross-tabulations Descriptive statistics

Chapter 14: Surveys Now you know all about surveys!!!!!