Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1: Bhutta, C.B. (2012). Not by the Book: Facebook as a Sampling Frame. Sociological Methods & Research, 41(1), 57–88. DOI: 10.1177/0049124112440795

[Survey research through social networking sites and online questionnaires are discussed in this study.  Using a simple survey developed for a social networking site (Facebook), the author compares the results with standard surveys conducted by corporations like Gallup.]

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe the author’s position on the current status of social networking sites being used as a tool for research.
2.  Discuss several issues of concern regarding sampling when using survey research with social networking sites.
3.  Describe how the Facebook data obtained in this study compared to similar studies conducted by the Gallup samples and the General Social Survey.

Article 2: Wells, T., Bailey, J.T. & Link, M.W. (2014). Comparison of Smartphone and Online Computer Survey Administration. Social Science Computer Review, 32(2), 238-255. DOI: 10.1177/0894439313505829

 [This study compared the effects of self-administered surveys, based on the mode of administration – mobile app or PC web. Based on the results of this study, there appears to be little evidence for mode effects across the two platforms, allowing for the development of multimodal surveys designs.]

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe some of the early results of research using smartphones for self-administered surveys.
2.  Explain why the researchers believed a higher-than expected number of respondents completed their smartphone app-based survey.
3. Based on the results of this study, describe why the researchers are able to conclude that responses collected in a mobile app survey are similar to those collected in an online computer survey.