1. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 1 C HOOSING A S URVEY M ETHOD Wail Al-Sabbali

2. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 2 Chapter 4 In this chapter, we discuss the choice between mail, face-to-face, and telephone survey methods

3. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 3 Contents I Types of Surveys What to Consider II Mail Surveys - Strengths & Weaknesses III Telephone Surveys - Strengths & Weaknesses IV Face-to-face Surveys - Strengths & Weaknesses V Drop-Off Surveys VI Response Rate Budget VII Future

4. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 4 Different Types of Surveys Mail Surveys Mail Surveys Telephone Interviews Telephone Interviews Face-to-face Interviews Face-to-face Interviews Drop-off Surveys Drop-off Surveys

5. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 5 What to consider Resources (People and money) Resources (People and money) Time Time Error (coverage, sampling, measurement, non- response) Error (coverage, sampling, measurement, non- response)

6. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 6 Mail Surveys Strengths Strengths  Less recourses and less cost  Less sensitive to biases introduced by the interviewer Weaknesses  Sensitive to non- coverage error  People are less likely to respond to questionnaire  Surveyor has less control on the questionnaire

7. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 7 Mail Surveys Mail surveys are best suited for Surveying people for whom a reliable address list is available and who are likely to respond accurately and completely in writing Surveying people for whom a reliable address list is available and who are likely to respond accurately and completely in writing Surveys in which an immediate turnaround is not required Surveys in which an immediate turnaround is not required Projects in which money, qualified staff, and professional help are all relatively scarce Projects in which money, qualified staff, and professional help are all relatively scarce

8. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 8 Telephone Surveys Strengths Strengths  Quick  More control Weaknesses  Telephone directories are incomplete  Sensitive to measurement errors

9. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 9 Telephone Surveys Telephone surveys are most appropriate when Members of the population are very likely to have telephones Members of the population are very likely to have telephones Questions are relatively straightforward Questions are relatively straightforward Experienced help is available Experienced help is available Quick turnaround is important Quick turnaround is important

10. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 10 Face-to-face Surveys Strengths Strengths  Good control  People are likely to respond Weaknesses  High cost  Time consuming

11. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 11 Face-to-face Face-to-face surveys are best suited Surveying populations for whom there is no list Surveying populations for whom there is no list Collecting information from people who are likely to respond willingly or accurately by mail or telephone Collecting information from people who are likely to respond willingly or accurately by mail or telephone Complex questionnaires Complex questionnaires Well-funded projects for which experienced interviewers and professional help are available Well-funded projects for which experienced interviewers and professional help are available

12. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 12 Drop-off Surveys Drop-off survey combines the low labor cost of mail surveys and the personal contact of face-to-face survey. Drop-off surveys are best suited for Small community or neighborhood surveys in which respondents are not spread over a large area Small community or neighborhood surveys in which respondents are not spread over a large area Relatively short and simple questionnaires Relatively short and simple questionnaires Projects with a small staff but relatively large sample size Projects with a small staff but relatively large sample size

13. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 13 Response Rate The proportion of people in a particular sample who participate in the survey

14. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 14 Budget Regardless of the error sources & the response rate, money is the biggest concern for most of people Regardless of the error sources & the response rate, money is the biggest concern for most of people Estimating the cost of the survey differs from a method to another Estimating the cost of the survey differs from a method to another

15. CEM – 599 GRADUATE SEMINAR 15 Future Mixed Mode Survey Mixed Mode Survey  Using more than one method for a single survey to overcome the problem of the response rate & the high cost