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The Practice of Survey Research
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The Practice of Survey Research
Theory and Applications



May 2015 | 360 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Unique in its integration of theory and application, this comprehensive book explains survey design, implementation, data analysis, and continuing data management, including how to effectively incorporate the latest technology (e.g., SurveyMonkey and Qualtrics). Data management and analysis are demonstrated and explained through statistical software including SPSS, SAS, and STATA. In addition to helping students develop a complete understanding of survey research from start to finish, the authors also address the challenges and issues of specific disciplines.

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Part I: Before the Survey
 
Chapter 1: Introduction to Survey Research
What is survey research?

 
How do you know if a survey is good?

 
Surveys about Teachers: Are They Good Teachers?

 
Applications of Survey Research

 
Technology and Survey Research

 
The Ethics of Survey Research

 
Key Decisions about Survey Research: What’s Ahead

 
 
Part II: Questionnaire Design
 
Chapter 2: Types of Surveys
Omnibus Surveys

 
Administration

 
Importance of Proper Training of Interviewers

 
Types of Surveys

 
 
Chapter 3: The Survey Instrument
The Cover Letter

 
The Survey Instrument

 
Appearance, Formatting, and Design

 
 
Chapter 4: Survey Question Construction
Concept Measurement: Traits, Assessments, and Sentiments

 
Complex Concepts Question Development

 
Responses to Questions

 
Measurement Error

 
 
Chapter 5: Validity and Reliability
Reliability

 
Correlation

 
Types of Reliability and Estimation

 
Validity

 
 
Chapter 6: Pre-testing and Pilot Testing
Pre-testing

 
Pilot Testing

 
Pre-test and Pilot Test Limitations

 
 
Part III: Implementing a Survey
 
Chapter 7: Selecting a Sample: Probability Sampling
Sampling Terminology

 
Sampling Theory

 
Probability Sampling Techniques

 
 
Chapter 8: Non-Probability Sampling and Sampling Hard to Find Populations
Convenience Sampling

 
Quota Sampling

 
Purposive Sampling

 
Sampling Hard to Find Populations

 
 
Chapter 9: Improving Response Rates and Retention
Response Rates and Non-response Errors

 
Non-response Bias

 
Attrition in Panel Studies

 
Methods to Increase Participant Contact and Participant Cooperation

 
 
Chapter 10: Technologies to Develop and Implement Surveys
Mail Survey Administration

 
Computer-assisted Interviewing

 
Post-survey Data Entry and Data Cleaning Technology

 
Contracting with a Research Center to Conduct the Survey

 
 
Chapter 11: Data Collection
The Self-administered Cross-sectional Mailed Survey

 
The Self-administered Longitudinal Panel Mailed Survey

 
Interviewer-administered Surveys

 
Self-administered Web Surveys

 
Comparing Survey Types

 
Storage Needs

 
 
Part IV: Post-Survey Data Management and Analysis
 
Chapter 12: Data Entry
Data Entry

 
Documentation

 
 
Chapter 13: Data Cleaning
Simple Cross-sectional Data Cleaning

 
Cosmetic Cleaning

 
Skip Patterns

 
Multiple-response Questions, Other Specify and Open-ended Questions

 
Cleaning for Diagnostics

 
Interviewer Effects/Mode Effects

 
Cleaning Longitudinal Data

 
The Codebook

 
 
Chapter 14: Data Analysis for a Policy Report
Policy Reports

 
Descriptive Statistics

 
Analysis for a Policy Report

 
Summary

 
The Report Write-up

 
 
Chapter 15: More Advanced Data Analysis
Explanatory Research Questions

 
Journal Article Format

 
Regression Analysis

 
Addressing Missing Data

 
OLS Regressions of the Positive Relocation Scale

 
Creating Tables for the Journal Article and Writing-up the Results

 
 
Chapter 16: Data Archiving
Seeking External Funding for Your Survey Project

 
Archiving Original and Final Data

 
Data Format

 
Archiving and Making Data Publicly Available

 
 
Archives
 
Epilogue
Survey Administration checklist

 
Survey Design and Organization Checklist

 
Writing Good Questions Checklist

 
Piloting or Pre-Testing the Survey Checklist

 
Choosing a Sample Checklist

 
Improving Response Rates Checklist

 

Supplements

Companion Website
The companion website features data and syntax examples from Chapters 14 and 15 in all three of the main statistical software packages—SAS, SPSS, and STATA—so you can follow along as you study these chapters.

“Other survey research texts read as a dry report of what survey research is. This text reads as a personable text that walks the novice researcher through the survey research process, including all of the details considered by a seasoned survey researcher.”

Carol A. Angell, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

“[T]he book is organized in a very strategic and hands-on manner that will train students to think, plan, and implement a project like an experienced social scientific scholar using survey methods.”

Kenneth C. Yang, University of Texas at El Paso

“The text is very well written, clear and easy to understand. It highlights main concerns throughout the survey research process.”

Silvia K. Bartolic, University of British Columbia

“This textbook covers all of the important topics in survey research and does so at a level appropriate for advanced undergraduates.”

Richard E. Adams, Kent State University
Key features

KEY FEATURES:

  • The depth of coverage of data management helps readers develop a strong foundation for their survey research.
  • The data analysis chapters include write-ups for policy reports and articles to demonstrate how to interpret and use the data to communicate findings.
  • Real-life research examples throughout the text demonstrate concepts in action.
  • Samples of the important checklists that survey researchers use to make sure they have addressed all the decisions that need to be made to provide readers with models for their own research.
  • Ethics Corner sections discuss ethical issues specific to the chapter to demonstrate the types of ethical decisions and dilemmas that come up throughout the survey process.
  • Key terms and critical thinking questions at the end of each chapter help readers master the material.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 6

Chapter 13


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