descriptive research design
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Descriptive Research Design. Ch 6. Survey Methods. The survey method involves a structured questionnaire given to respondents and designed to elicit specific information This method of obtaining information is based on questioning respondents - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Descriptive Research Design
Ch 6
Survey Methods
The survey method involves a structured questionnaire given to respondents and designed to elicit specific information
This method of obtaining information is based on questioning respondents
Respondents are asked a variety of questions regarding their behavior, intentions, attitudes, awareness, motivations, and demographic and lifestyle characteristics
Survey Methods
These questions may be asked verbally, in writing or via computer, and the responses may be obtained in any of these forms
Survey methods are structured data collection methods
Survey Methods
Use of a formal questionnaire that presents questions in a predesigned order
Structured refers to the degree of standardization imposed on the data collection process
The process of obtaining information is direct
Survey Methods
Advantages Questionnaire is simple to administer The data are reliable because the
responses are limited to the alternatives stated
Coding, analysis, and interpretation of data are relatively simple
Survey Methods
Disadvantages Respondents may be unable or unwilling to
provide the desired information For example, consider questions about
motivational factors. Respondents may not be consciously aware of their motives for choosing specific brands or shopping at specific department stores. Therefore, they may be unable to provide accurate answers to questions about their motives
Respondents may be unwilling to respond if the information requested is sensitive or personal
Wording questions properly is not easy
Survey Methods
Telephone Interviews Traditional Computer assisted
Telephone Interviewing
Traditional Telephone Interviewing Involves a phoning a sample of
respondents and asking a series of questions
The interviewer uses a paper questionnaire and records the responses with a ball point pen
Advances in telecommunications and technology have made it possible to conduct nationwide interviewing from a central location
Telephone Interviewing
Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) CATI uses a computerized questionnaire
administered to respondents over a the telephone
A computerized questionnaire may be generated using a mainframe, mini or personal computer
Telephone Interviewing
Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) The interviewer sits in front of the
computer terminal and wears a headset The computer replaces a paper and
ballpoint pen questionnaire and the headset substitutes for telephone
Telephone Interviewing
Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Upon command, the computer dials the
telephone number to be called When contact is made the interviewer
reads the question posed on the computer screen and records the respondent’s answer directly into the computer memory bank
Telephone Interviewing
Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) The computer systematically guides the
interviewer Only one question at a time appears on
the screen
CATI
Advantages The computer checks the responses for
appropriateness and consistency The responses are use to personalize
the questionnaire The data collection flows naturally and
smoothly Interviewing time is reduced Data quality is enhanced
CATI
Advantages Laborious steps involved in the data
collection process, coding questionnaires, and entering data into the computer are eliminated
Because the data are entered directly into the computer, interim and update reports on data collection or results can be provided almost instantaneously
Personal Interviewing
Personal in-home interview Mall intercept interviews Computer-assisted personal
interviews
Personal In-Home Interviews
Respondents are interviewed face-to-face
Interviewer task is to contact the respondent, ask questions, and record the response
Mall Intercept Interviews
Respondents are interviewed face-to-face
Interviewer task is to intercept the respondent while shopping, ask questions, and record the response
Mall intercept interviews are more efficient than personal in-home interviews
Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)
The respondent sits in front of the computer terminal
Answers a series of questions on the computer screen using a keyboard or a mouse
An interviewer is present to guide and assist the respondent during the interview
Various software packages are available for designing computer-based questionnaires
Pocket PC Survey, Opinio 5.1 and EasyQD are some examples of application software used for questionnaire designing
CAPI is used to collect data at shopping malls, conferences and trade shows
Mail Interviews
Traditional Mail Mail Panel
Mail Methods In traditional mail interviews, questionnaires are
mailed to preselected potential respondents A typical mail interview package consists of the
outgoing envelope, cover letter, questionnaire, return envelope, and stimuli (display cards, etc.)
Initial task is to obtain a valid mailing list. Lists can be compiled from telephone directories, alumni databases, membership rosters, etc.
Electronic Methods
E-mail Interviews Internet Interviews
E-mail Interviews Much like a traditional mail interview The questions are either written within the body
of the e-mail message or may be attached in form of a text file
E-mailed questionnaire is as good as a manually administered questionnaire
The received questionnaires need to be manually tabulated, coded, and entered for analysis
Legitimacy of the respondent is difficult to ascertain, as anyone having access to an email address can respond
Internet Interviews
In contrast to e-mail surveys, Internet or Web surveys use Hypertext markup language (HTML) and are posted on a Web site
Respondents may be recruited over the internet from potential respondent databases maintained by marketing research firms or they can be recruited by conventional methods
Internet Interviews Internet surveys are more advantageous than e-
mail surveys Internet or web based surveys (also called on-line
surveys) allows for direct update of collected information
Errors that may arise from tabulation, coding or entry are all eliminated
Internet surveys have built-in checks and skipping instructions as opposed to e-mail surveys
Additional stimuli, such as graphs, images animations, links to other Web pages may be integrated into or around the survey
A Comparative Evaluation of Survey Methods
Evaluation criteria includes: Flexibility of Data Collection Diversity of questions Use of physical stimuli Sample control Control of data collection environment Control of field force Quality of data Response rate Perceived anonymity of the respondent Social desirability Obtaining sensitive information Potential for interviewer bias Speed Cost
Flexibility of Data Collection
Flexibility refers to the extent to which respondent can interact with interviewer and the questionnaire
Personal survey methods allows for greatest flexibility
Traditional telephone surveys allows only moderate flexibility
CATI, CAPI, and Internet surveys allows comparatively more flexibility
Mail survey methods have low flexibility
Diversity of Questions
The diversity of questions that can be asked depends upon the degree of interaction the respondent has with the interviewer and the questionnaire, as well as the ability to actually see the questions
Personal in-home, mall-intercept, and CAPI allows for diversity
Internet surveys have moderate to high degree of diversity
Mail surveys , CATI, and traditional telephone surveys have limited capability of asking a diversity of questions
Use of Physical Stimuli
Personal survey methods allows highest use of physical stimuli
Mail surveys allows moderate usage Internet surveys are also moderately
suitable for using physical stimuli Traditional telephone and CATI have
limited usage of physical stimuli
Sample Control
Sample control is the ability of the survey mode to reach the sampling unit
Personal in-home interviews have highest degree of sample control
Telephone or CATI surveys have moderate to high degree of sample control
Mall intercept and CAPI interviews have moderate sample control
Mail, internet and email have low sample control
Control over Data Collection Environment
Mall intercept and CAPI offers highest control
Telephone and CATI offers moderate control
Mail survey methods and electronic survey methods offer low control
Control over Field Force
Traditional telephone surveys, CATI, CAPI, mall intercept offers moderate control over field force
Electronic and mail survey methods do not require field force and have no such requirement
Personal in-home interviews have lowest control over field force as interviews are conducted at various locations simultaneously , it impractical to supervise them continuously
Quantity of Data
Personal survey methods allows for greatest quantity of data collection
Telephone and CATI allows for lowest amount of data as they tend to shorter than other methods
Mail surveys may yield moderate amounts of data
Response Rate
Highest in personal, in-home , mall intercept, CATI, and CAPI yields highest response rate
Mail surveys and surveys conducted using electronic survey methods yields lowest response rate
Perceived Anonymity
Refers to the respondent’s perception that the interviewer or the researcher will not discern their identities
It is higher in mail and Internet surveys Perceived anonymity is low in personal
interviews Traditional telephone and CATI falls in
middle E-mail is moderate
Social Desirability
Survey methods in which interviewer is not in personal contact with the respondent are less susceptible to social desirability
Social desirability refers to the tendency to give answers that may not be accurate but they may be desirable from a social standpoint
Potential for Interviewer Bias
Interviewers can bias the results of a survey by the manner in which they select the respondents, ask certain questions, record answers
The extent of the interviewer’s role determines the degree of bias
In-home and mall intercept surveys have highest potential for interview bias
CATI and telephone interviews have somewhat less chances
Mail and electronic survey methods are free from interviewer bias
Speed
Internet surveys are fastest E-mail survey is also fast Traditional telephone ands CATI are
also fast ways of obtaining information Mall-intercept and CAPI are moderate
to high on speed count In-home personal interviews are lower Mail surveys are slowest
Cost
Internet surveys are most cost effective Personal-in-home interviews are most
expensive
Observation Methods
The recording of behavioral patterns of people, objects, and events in a systematic manner to obtain information about the phenomenon of interest is called ‘observation’
Observation Methods
Structured Observation Observation techniques where the
researcher clearly defines the behaviors to be observed and the methods by which they will be measured
Observation Methods
Unstructured Observation Observation that involves a researcher
monitoring all aspects of a phenomenon without specifying the details in advance
Observation Methods Disguised Observation
In disguise observation, the respondents are unaware that they are being observed
Disguise enable respondents to behave naturally, because people tend to behave differently when they know they are being observed
Disguise may be accomplished by on-way mirror, hidden cameras, inconspicuous mechanical devices
Observation Methods
Undisguised Observation In undisguised observation, the
respondents are aware that they are under observation
Observation Methods
Natural Observation Natural observation involves observing
behavior as it takes place in the environment
Contrived Observation The behavior is observed in an artificial
environment
Observation Methods Personal Observation
An observational research strategy in which human observers record the phenomenon being observed as it occurs
For example, a researcher might record traffic counts and observes traffic flows in a department store
Mystery shoppers are another example of personal observation
Observation Methods Mechanical Observation
An observational research strategy in which mechanical devices, rather than human observers, record the phenomenon being observed
Cameras, bar code readers, turnstiles (that record the number of people entering or leaving a building
Observation Methods
Audit Physical examination by the researcher
or his representative of people, objects or events is known as audit
Retail audit is the physical examination of the inventory in an outlet
Comparison of Survey & Personal Observation Methods