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Survey Design and Survey Design and ImplementationImplementation
Elizabeth C WellsElizabeth C Wells
Doctoral Candidate Doctoral Candidate
Ag & Extension EducationAg & Extension Education
http://www.msu.edu/~wellselz/http://www.msu.edu/~wellselz/
Why do people fill out surveys?
What do you want to ask/measure?
Accuracy/Survey Error
Random Sampling
Writing Questions
Questionnaire Design
Survey Implementation
Telephone, Interview and Internet Surveys
UCRIHS
Why People Fill Out SurveysWhy People Fill Out Surveys
• Social Exchange Theory
Theory of human behavior in which actions of individuals are motivated by the return these actions are expected to bring.
Elements of reward, cost and trust
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory
• Rewards
show positive regard
say thank you
ask for advice
support group values
give tangible rewards
make the questionnaire interesting
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory
• Reduce Social Costsavoid subordinating languageavoid inconvenienceavoid embarrassmentmake it short and easyminimize requests for personal informationkeep requests consistent
Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory
• Establish Trust provide token of appreciation in advance
sponsorship by legitimate authority
make task appear important
invoke other exchange
Constructs and MeasurementConstructs and Measurement
• What do you want to know?
• What are the variables?
• How will you measure it?
behavior, attitudes, feelings, demographics
Survey ErrorSurvey Error
• Sampling Error – Who are you sampling?• Coverage Error – Does your list include
everyone?• Measurement Error – Does everyone answer a
question the same way?• Non-response Error – Why did respondent not
answer: Instrument (whole questionnaire not returned) Item (question not answered)
Non Response ErrorNon Response Error
• Only an issue if non responders would answer differently and change results
compare early to late respondents
double dip
Random SamplingRandom Sampling
• How much sampling error can you tolerate?
• How large is the population?
• How varied is the population?
• How confident do you wish to be about estimates made from the sample?
Random Sampling - ChartRandom Sampling - ChartPop Size 50/50 split 80/20 split100 80 71200 132 111400 196 153600 234 175800 260 1881000 278 198
Sample size for a 95% confidence level
And a + 5% sampling error
Random SamplingRandom Sampling
• http://www.randomizer.org
A www site that will generate random numbers which you can use for random selection of participants on a mailing list.
Writing QuestionsWriting Questions
• Everyone will interpret the same way
• Respondents are able to respond accurately
• Respondents are willing to answer
Writing QuestionsWriting Questions
• Use simple words
• Keep it short
• Be specific
• Do not talk down
• Avoid bias
• Avoid hypothetical questions
• Use complete sentences
Question CriteriaQuestion Criteria
• Does the question require an answer? If you fixed dinner last night, did you eat meat as part of
that meal?
• To what extent does the respondent have a ready made and accurate answer?
Are tall people more likely to be elected President?
• Can respondent accurately recall and report past behavior?
How much television did you watch last month?
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Use simple words and phrases tired……………………………exhausted
honest…………………………candid
work……………………………employment
most important………………..top priority
free time……………………….leisure
doctor………………………….physician
your answers………………….your responses to this
questionnaire
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Avoid vague quantifiers How often did you attend religious services last year?
Never
Rarely
Occasionally
Regularly
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
How often did you attend religious services during the past year?
Not at all A few times About once a month
Two or three times a month About once a week More than once a week
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Avoid bias by using both positive and negative sides in the question stem
“To what extent do you agree….”
vs
“To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement…. “
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Avoid double-barreled questions
16. Should the new school have a swimming pool that includes lanes for swimming laps and is not enclosed for winter use?
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Avoid asking respondent to say yes in order to mean no.
5. Do you favor or oppose not allowing the state to approve a casino without approval from 60% of the voters?
Favor
Oppose
5. Do you favor or oppose requiring 60% approval by voters in order for a casino to be built.
Favor requiring 60% approval
Oppose requiring 60% approval
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Use equal numbers of positive and negative categories for scalar questions AND distinguish undecided from neutral by placing at the end of the scale.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Listening to classical music is good for a persons emotional health.”
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Soften impact of potentially objectionable questions:
Have you ever shoplifted something from a store?
vs
Have you ever taken something from a store without paying for it?
22. What was your total income from all sources in 2003?
______________ Total income for 2003
22. Which category best describes your total income from all sources in 2003?
$10,000. or less
$10,001. to $20,000.
$20,001. to $35,000.
$35,001. to $50,000.
$50,001. or above
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Don’t combine numbers and words
Doing so may impact respondents perception of the scale.
1= strongly agree, 2 = agree,
3 = disagree, 4 = strongly disagree
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
• Eliminate check-all-that-apply questions to reduce primacy and sufficiency effect.
People tend to check the first ones more than the last ones and sometimes check a few and feel that is enough to satisfy the researcher.
Question PrinciplesQuestion Principles
Extension Agent Other Cattlemen Fertilizer and other
salesmen
59% selected
Extension Agent
Other Cattlemen Fertilizer and other
salesmen Extension Agent
41% selected
Extension Agent
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Paper and layout choice
booklet format preferred
one column for legal size
two columns for full size
avoid upper left staple design
avoid unusual size, shape or fold
Order of QuestionsOrder of Questions
• A questionnaire is like a conversation. It evolves according to social norms. Constantly switching topics makes it appear as though the researcher is not listening to the respondents answers.
• Doing otherwise results in answers that are less thought out when you want them to focus!
Order of QuestionsOrder of Questions
• What was your family income in 2003?• Do you like to play golf?• What is your opinion on Global Warming?• Are you married?• How often have you gone fishing this year?• How adequate is your current health care?• How old are you?• What is your political party preference?• What is your occupation?
Question OrderQuestion Order
• Group alike questions together
• Begin asking questions in the upper left corner
• Ask one question at a time
• Use item-in-a-series format
The First QuestionThe First Question
• Should clearly apply to everyone
• Question should be easy
• Question needs to be interesting
• Connectedness between the question and the purpose of the survey.
Unacceptable First QuestionsUnacceptable First Questions
1. Please think about the things that make MSU Extension a pleasant place to work and write down the five most important aspects and rate them one to five in importance to you.
.
Unacceptable First Questions Unacceptable First Questions
1. Please describe in your own words what you consider good about working for MSU Extension.
1. What year were you born?
_________year born
Good First QuestionGood First Question
1. Thinking about MSU Extension, how would you rate it as a place to work?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Graphic DesignGraphic Design
• Stimuli on page consists of two languages:
written words
graphic symbols and arrangements
Graphic Design Graphic Design
• Desired navigational path
• Create visual navigational guides
• Develop additional guides for redirecting during skip patterns
• Be consistent through out your instrument
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Instructions need to be exactly where needed not at the beginning of the whole questionnaire.
• Use italics or bolding or underline to emphasize instructions and directions
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Pre-attentive processing is 210 degrees
• Focused reading is 2 degrees or about 8 to 9 characters
• Use font, size, contrast, underline, spacing to lead the respondent through the questionnaire
Start here:
1. Which of the following is your main work activity?
Research
Teaching
Administration
Other (Please Specify) _________________
START HERE:
Which of the following is your main work activity?
Research
Teaching
Administration
Other (Please specify) ____________________
Questionnaire FormatQuestionnaire Format
• For paper questionnaires the standard font is 12 pt Times New Roman – also consider a larger font for senior audiences
• For on-line questionnaires the standard font is 10 pt Ariel
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Use a square for your answer and ask for an “X” in the square.
[ ]
1
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Place instructions exactly where needed within the question
• Differentiate with font, bolding, underlining etc
5. How many months have you worked at your current job?
_________Number of months
Please be as specific as possible in answering the next question, including any area of specialization. Example: Extension Agent – Agriculture. If you had more than one job, answer for the job for which you worked the most hours.
6. What kind of work do you do in your current job?
_________________________________ Kind of work
5. How many months have you worked in your current job?
_____________________ Number of months
6. What kind of work do you do in your current job? Please be as specific as possible in answering. Include any are of specialization, for example: “Extension Agent – Agriculture”. If you had more than one job, answer for the job which you worked the most hours.
______________________________Kind of work
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Vertical alignment eases response task
• Don’t double or triple bank answers
1. Which one of the following best describes the 4-H project with the largest enrollment within your club?
market beef
lambs
hogs
dogs
cats
rabbits
goats
poultry
dairy
1. Which one of the following best describes the 4-H project with the largest enrollment within your club?
beef
hogs
lambs
dogs
cats
rabbits
goats
poultry
dairy
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Major changes are needed for skip patterns
• Skip patterns are difficult to follow
• Skip patterns often lead to item non response
12. Normally do you eat breakfast every day?
Yes (Go to 13)
No (Go to 18)
13. How many times a week do you drink orange juice with your breakfast?
__________ Times a week
12. Normally do you eat breakfast every day?
No (Skip to 18)
Yes
13. (If Yes) How often do you drink orange juice with your breakfast?
____________ Times a week
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Demographic data questions
Place at end of questionnaire but not on
back page
Only ask what is necessary
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Front cover needs to stand out
Consider simple art work
Include name of survey
Include name and address for return
Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire Design
• Back cover needs to be simple with white space
Try not to ask specific questions
May place open ended question here
Give opportunity to add comments
Conclude with a thank you
ImplementationImplementation
• Respondent friendly questionnaire
• Multiple contacts
• Token pre-paid incentive
• SASA for return
• Personalized correspondence
ImplementationImplementation
• Four contacts plus one “special” = 5 contacts
Brief pre notice letter
Questionnaire mailing with SASE
Thank you postcard
Replacement questionnaire
Final contact with “special” mailing
Implementation – Contact 1Implementation – Contact 1
• Pre-notice letter: Date at top Personalized letter What will happen What it is about Usefulness of survey Thank you
Real signature P.S. Token incentive
Mail out a few days to one week before mailing instrument
4-6% higher response rate
Implementation – Contact 2Implementation – Contact 2
• Mail the questionnaire
Include personalized cover letter
Questionnaire
Self addressed stamped envelope with real stamp
Enclose incentive
Use first class postage – plain envelope
Implementation – Cover LetterImplementation – Cover Letter
• Inside address• Request• Why you were selected• Usefulness of survey• Confidentiality• Token of appreciation• Willingness to answer questions• Thank you• Real signature in contrasting ink
Implementation – Token IncentiveImplementation – Token Incentive
• Cash in advance $1. or $2. = 12% to 19% increase in response rate
• Less of an increase for larger amount later
• Increasing incentive not cost effective
• Non dollar incentive not as effective and may be effective because of packaging
Implementation – Contact 3 Implementation – Contact 3
• Postcard to all who were mailed a questionnaire thanking them
• Serves to jog memory• Gives opportunity to
call for replacement if needed
Mail one week after questionnaire
Increase up to 13%
Implementation – Contact 4Implementation – Contact 4
• Replacement questionnaire to those who have not yet responded.
• Letter reminding them of the survey and asking again for their assistance.
Sent only to non-respondents
Two to four weeks after 3rd
contact
Implementation – Contact 5Implementation – Contact 5
• Special mailing to those who have not yet responded
• Use unique method of mailing – certified, priority etc
• May also telephone and fill out over the phone
Final contact is a week or more after 4th contact
Tracking ResponsesTracking Responses
• Assign each questionnaire a number• Assign each name and address a number• Send respondents their individually numbered
questionnaire • Have assistant mark off numbers as they are
returned• Note surveys are confidential not anonymous• Keep completed questionnaires in secure
location
Mixed Mode SurveysMixed Mode Surveys
• Responses differ by mode:
“Excellent Health” = 44% by personal interview
= 37% by telephone
= 30% by mail
social desirability
acquiescence
primacy vs recency effect
Telephone SurveysTelephone Surveys
• Difficult to obtain phone numbers
• Caller id and answering machines may screen calls
• Need well trained interviewers
• Limited number of questions and answers
Internet SurveysInternet Surveys
• Consider coverage error. Does your entire audience have and use the internet on a regular basis?
• E-mail addresses change often
• Difficult to include incentive
• Shorter less detailed questionnaire
Survey Monkey
Research EthicsResearch Ethics
Anonymous – No way to know who returned the survey
Confidential – Only researcher can connect the respondent with their answers. All answers remain confidential.
Research EthicsResearch Ethics
• If you wish to publish results you MUST get approval from UCRIHS before you send out surveys.
University Committee on Research Involving Human Subject
ReferencesReferences
Mail and Internet Surveys – The Tailored
Design Method by Don Dillman 2000
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