1. Survey Methods By Shivakumaraswamy, K N bgsitlibrarian@gmail.com

2. Introduction
Survey research has been widely used in LIS. It deals mainly with collection, analysis and presentation of data relating to the present time reflecting the present state of affairs in social, economic and political activities. Survey method is approached through the methods of personal interview, mailed questionnaires (both surface and ), telephone, personal discussion, electronic survey, and so on.

3. What is a survey?
According to National Business Research Institute (NBRI), Inc. U.S. A survey may be many things, but a survey should be a deliberate, well-planned research study of a number of individuals with regard to one or more variables, carried out in such a way as to significantly reduce the error inherent in all social science research by adhering to scientific research principles and methodologies.

4. Features of a survey Characteristics of survey method
Information is gathered by asking people questions.
Information is collected either by having interviewers ask questions and record answers or by having people read or hear questions and record their answers.
Characteristics of survey method
The survey method has certain specific characteristics
It is always carried in a natural setting or field study.
It obtains responses directly from the respondents.
It can seek and cover a very large population.

5. Quality of a survey depends upon the following
The thoroughness in planning.
The soundness in sampling.
The adequacy and reliability of data.
The quality of analysis.
The interpretation of the findings.

6. Purpose of surveys
To provide information to government and business enterprises.
To test hypotheses and thereby to explain the causal relationship between variables and to find out the influences of various parameters.
To make comparisons of demographic groups.
To compare cause and effects and relationship to make use for certain predictions.

7. Types of survey
Personal interviews
Telephone surveys
Mail surveys
Web surveys

8. Personal interviewing
An interview is called personal when the Interviewer asks the questions face-to-face with the Interviewee. Personal interviews can take place in the home, at a shopping mall, on the street, outside a movie theater or polling place, and so on.
Advantages:
Generally yields highest cooperation and lowest refusal rates
Allows for longer, more complex interviews
High response quality
Takes advantage of interviewer presence
Multi-method data collection
Disadvantages:
Most costly mode of administration
Longer data collection period
Interviewer concerns

9. Interview schedule sample template
While every interview requires a somewhat different structure, certain principles and techniques are applicable to all. Each interview schedule should have the following three major parts:
The opening
The body
The closing

10. Telephone interviewing
Surveying by telephone is the most popular interviewing method in the world. This is made possible by nearly universal.
Advantages:
Less expensive
Shorter data collection period
Interviewer administration
Better control and supervision of interviewers
Better response rate
Disadvantages:
Biased against households without telephones, unlisted numbers
Non response
Questionnaire constraints
Difficult to administer questionnaires on sensitive or complex topics

11. Mail surveys
surveys are both very economical and very fast. More people have than have full Internet access. This makes a better choice than a Web page survey for some populations. On the other hand, surveys are limited to simple questionnaires, whereas Web page surveys can include complex logic.
Advantages:
Cost is very low
Extremely fast
Can be administered by smaller team of people
Access to otherwise difficult to locate, busy populations
Respondents can look up information or consult with others
Disadvantages:
Most difficult to obtain cooperation
No interviewer involved in collection of data
Need good sample
More likely to need an incentive for respondents
Slower data collection period

12. Web surveys
Web surveys are rapidly gaining popularity. They have major speed, cost, and flexibility advantages, but also significant sampling limitations. These limitations make software selection especially important and restrict the groups you can study using this technique.
Advantages:
Lower cost (no paper, postage, mailing, data entry costs)
Can reach international populations
Time required for implementation reduced
Complex skip patterns can be programmed
Sample size can be greater
Disadvantages:
Differences in capabilities of people's computers and software for accessing Web surveys
Do not reflect population as a whole.

13. Thank you