Learning Objectives

This chapter will help you:

  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of surveys as a research method.
  • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of mail, phone, face-to-face, and online surveys.
  • Demonstrate with examples common ways of formatting survey questions.
  • Describe with examples common problems in survey wording and how to correct them.
  • Identify ways to improve survey response rates.
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using other people’s survey data.