1. Survey Overview

3. Classify Surveys Structured questions – imposes limit on responses

4. Classify Surveys Disguised question – the true purpose of the question is hidden from R

5. Classify Surveys Temporal Classification – Cross-sectional – surveys respondents at one point in time – Longitudinal – different R’s at different points in time – Panel Study – same R’s at different points in time

7. The Nature of Surveys Questionnaires Interviews

10. Errors in Survey Research Random sampling error – Margin of Error [+/- 3%] Systematic error – Size ?

12. Systematic Error Respondent Error Administrative Error

13. Respondent Error Non-response – Errors associated with those selected, but who fail to participate

14. Non-Response Errors Non-Respondents – Not at home – Refusal – Item non-response (missing at random?) Self Selection Problem

15. Respondent Error Response Error – When people consistently bias answers – Deliberate Fear of reprisals – Unconscious

16. Unconscious Misrepresentation Acquiescence bias – R always agrees with Q’s

17. Unconscious Misrepresentation Extremity bias

18. Unconscious Misrepresentation Interviewer bias – Solutions: – List Randomization – Bogus Pipeline

19. Unconscious Misrepresentation Auspices bias – due to org conducting survey

20. Unconscious Misrepresentation Social desirability bias – Over estimating income, or amount of exercise

21. Administrative Error Data processing error – mis-keying a response when entering it Sample selection error

22. Administrative Error Interviewer error – mis-recording a response when interviewing Interviewer cheating – falsifying interviews

23. Administrative Error A team from Imperial College found that in 2009-10, nearly 20,000 adults were coded as having attended pediatric outpatient services, and 3,000 patients under 19 were apparently treated in geriatric clinics. Even more striking, between 15,000 and 20,000 men have been admitted to obstetric wards each year since 2003, and almost 10,000 to gynecology wards.

24. Estimates for systematic error How can we? Only 50% of people who say they will definitely buy consumer packaged goods within the next three months actually do so! Well designed surveys will substantially reduce systematic error

25. Practice Problems: Survey Modes