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Designing Surveys
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Designing Surveys
A Guide to Decisions and Procedures

Third Edition

A step-by-step guide to conducting surveys, with an emphasis on critical thinking and views on critically assessing surveys conducted by others

April 2013 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Written with the needs and goals of a novice researcher in mind, this fully updated Third Edition provides an accurate account of how modern surveys are actually designed and conducted. Much more than a “how-to” guide, this up-to-date and accessible book presents the material in a social science context and teaches readers to think through decisions about sample design, questionnaire development, and data collection, rather than simply following prescriptive advice that may not be appropriate to particular practical situations. In addition to providing examples of alternative procedures, Designing Surveys shows how classic principles and recent research guide decision-making—from setting the basic features of the survey design to implementing instrument development, testing, and data collection. The new edition covers new developments in data collection technologies, provides a more comprehensive treatment of questionnaire development and pretesting, and includes completely new chapters on sample design and selection.
 
1. Survey Practice
 
2. Survey Error
 
3. Planning the Survey: The Hierarchy of Decisions
 
4. Data Collection I: Selecting a Method
 
5. Sampling I: Concepts of Representation and Sample Quality
 
6. Sampling II: Population Definition and Frames
 
7. Sampling III: Sample Size and Sample Design
Methodology Appendix 1: Using Models in Sampling

 
 
8. Questionnaire Development I: Measurement Error and Question Writing
 
9. Questionnaire Development II: Questionnaire Structure
Methodology Appendix 2: Questionnaire Evaluation Workshop

 
 
10. Questionnaire Development III: Pretesting
Methodology Appendix 3: Cognitive Interviewing Workshop

 
 
11. Data Collection II: Controlling Error in Data Collection
Methodology Appendix 4: An Overview of Organization Surveys

 
 
12. Post-Survey Statistical Adjustments and the Methodology Report
 
Appendix A: UM Undergraduate Student Survey
 
Appendix B: Maryland Crime Survey
 
Appendix C: AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics
 
Appendix D: Internet Resources

Designing surveys has explored the broad principles for sampling and has addressed representative sampling issues. Researchers at all levels stand to benefit from reading the areas of the book that are applicable to their survey design.

Ms Emma Etuk
St Bart's Schl of Nursing & Midwifery, City University
December 19, 2014
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Recommended reading for any student (or tutor!) planning a survey for their research dissertations. An excellent guide.

Dr Adrian Hunnisett
Research, McTimoney College of Chiropractic
May 21, 2014
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This book helped me a lot in planning a survey based seminar.

Professor Ilona Heldal
Information and Communication Technologies, Interaction Lab
April 22, 2014
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Perfect for undergraduate students

Dr Peter Yacobucci
Political Science Dept, Buffalo State College
April 1, 2014
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This book offers a wealth of practical support in designing surveys. It tackles the challenges within use of surveys as well as the opportunities.

Dr Anthony Hickey
School of Nursing, Salford University
February 17, 2014
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Nothing new was offered.

Dr Anne-Marie Armstrong
Computer Science Dept, Colorado Tech Univ-Co Springs
February 12, 2014
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It is a good book looking up detailed information or explanation of survey design issues. Yet for use in the class room it is too much text based where the design of a survey is actually highly practice based

Dr Koen Kooy
International Business and Management, Hogeschool Rotterdam
December 16, 2013
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An interesting text that aids students' understanding of the complexity of survey design

Dr Mark Francis-Wright
Health and Human Sciences, University of Essex
November 5, 2013
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easy to follow text

Mrs Gillian Bishop
Department of Management & Marketing, Huddersfield University
October 31, 2013
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A gem of a book; really useful and nothing else on the market that does such a specific job.

Helpful diagrams such as the one showing the stages in designing and using a survey

Useful for beginners, particularly the first few chapters, and for more advanced researchers, to refine their technique

Addresses the use of social media, but possibly more on this growth area would be useful

A little more on the ethical issues of using surveys would also have been helpful

Dr Sue Howarth
Institute of Education, Worcester University
October 21, 2013
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Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • Major changes in how quality surveys are designed and conducted are covered, including methodological advances for sampling and data collection, especially Web-based and mutli-mode designs.
  • The latest methods for all aspects of the survey process are incorporated in planning the survey, developing and pretesting the questionnaire, designing the sample, pilot testing the survey, managing data collection, and reporting methodological issues.
  • Methodological advances in telephone and multi-mode survey design are covered, including Address-Based Sampling (ABS), behavior coding, cognitive interviewing, adjusting for nonresponse bias, and more.
  • Two new chapters on sample design and implementation.
  • Four Methodology Appendices:  Using Models in Sampling; Questionnaire Evaluation; Cognitive Interview Pretesting; and Organization Surveys.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Practical, accessible coverage equips students and independent researchers to conduct their own surveys and to critically assess surveys done by others.
  • Comprehensive coverage gives readers a sound basis for both conducting small-scale surveys and understanding the design principles necessary for developing more complex, specialized larger surveys.
  • Practical advice supported by real world examples helps readers learn how to think through design options and implementation decisions and provides a basis for designing surveys that are compatible with today’s technologies.
  • A walk-through of the entire sampling process starts with defining the target population and linking it to an appropriate sampling frame, alternative methods of determining the sample size appropriate to the research goals, and maximizing the efficiency of the sample design and sample selection.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1 Survey Practice

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