Survey Research Methods
3rd Edition
Published on 25. October 2001
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-0-7619-2190-5 (ISBN)
Description
Popular with over 49,000 readers for giving those who want to collect, analyze, or read about survey data a sound basis for evaluating how each aspect of a survey can affect its precision, accuracy, and credibility, this new Third Edition presents the latest methodological knowledge on survey research. New to this edition is coverage of:
? Improved techniques for evaluating survey questions
? The latest options available to researchers in using the computer and the internet for surveys
? Recent methodological findings to enhance survey research
With an emphasis on the importance of minimizing nonsampling errors through superior question design, quality interviewing, and high response rates, this book helps readers understand the relationship of data collection to figures and statistics based on the survey-and how much confidence to place in the reported results based on this relationship.
? Improved techniques for evaluating survey questions
? The latest options available to researchers in using the computer and the internet for surveys
? Recent methodological findings to enhance survey research
With an emphasis on the importance of minimizing nonsampling errors through superior question design, quality interviewing, and high response rates, this book helps readers understand the relationship of data collection to figures and statistics based on the survey-and how much confidence to place in the reported results based on this relationship.
Reviews / Votes
"It provides a concise overview of the entire survey research process and does so using clear and easy to understand language....Survey Research Methods is a well-packaged and valuable resource for researchers. It is well written and has many desirable features, particularly with respect to the intended audience" -- Organizational Research MethodsMore details
Series
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
336 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7619-2190-5 (9780761921905)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Floyd J. Fowler
Survey Research Methods
Book
03/1993
3rd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€58.38
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Floyd J. Fowler, Jr. is a graduate of Wesleyan University and received a PhD from the University of Michigan in 1966. A Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Survey Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston since 1971, he was Director of the Center for 14 years. Dr. Fowler is the author or co-author of four textbooks on survey methods, including Survey Research Methods, Improving Survey Questions, Standardized Survey Interviewing (with Mangione), and Survey Methodology (with Groves, Couper, Lepkowski, et. al), as well as numerous research papers and monographs. His recent work has focused on studies of question design and evaluation techniques and applying survey methods to studies of medical care.
Content
Preface
1. Introduction
Reasons for Surveys
The Components of Surveys
Purposes and Goals of This Text
2. Sampling
The Sample Frame
Selecting a One-Stage Sample
Multistage Sampling
Making Estimates From Samples and Sampling Errors
How Big Should a Sample Be?
Sampling Error as a Component of Total Survey Error
Exercise
3. Nonresponse: Implementing a Sample Design
Calculating Response Rates
Bias Associated With Nonresponse
Reducing Nonresponse in Telephone or Personal Interview Surveys
Reducing Nonresponse to Mail Surveys
Reducing Nonresponse to Internet Surveys
Multimode Data Collection
Correcting for Nonresponse
Nonprobability (or Modified Probability) Samples
Nonresponse as a Source of Error
Exercise
4. Methods of Data Collection
Major Issues in Choosing a Strategy
Summary Comparison of Methods
Conclusion
Exercise
5. Designing Questions to Be Good Measures
Increasing the Reliability of Answers
Avoiding Multiple Questions
Types of Measures/Types of Questions
Increasing the Validity of Factual Reporting
Increasing the Validity of Answers Describing Subjective States
Question Design and Error
Exercises
6. Evaluating Survey Questions and Instruments
Defining Objectives
Preliminary Question Design Steps
Presurvey Evaluation
Design, Format, and Layout of Survey Instruments
Field Pretests
Survey Instrument Length
Conclusion
Exercise
7. Survey Interviewing
Overview of Interviewer Job
Interviewer Recruitment and Selection
Training Interviewers
Supervision
Survey Questions
Interviewing Procedures
Validation of Interviews
The Role of Interviewing in Survey Error
Exercise
8. Preparing Survey Data for Analysis
Formatting a Data File
Constructing a Code
Approaches to Coding and Data Entry
Data Cleaning
Coding and Data Reduction as Sources of Errors in Surveys
9. Ethical Issues in Survey Research
Informing Respondents
Protecting Respondents
Benefits to Respondents
Ethical Responsibilities to Interviewers
Conclusion
10. Providing Information About Survey Methods
Exercise
11. Survey Error in Perspective
The Concept of Total Survey Design
Error in Perspective
Conclusion
References
Index
About the Author
1. Introduction
Reasons for Surveys
The Components of Surveys
Purposes and Goals of This Text
2. Sampling
The Sample Frame
Selecting a One-Stage Sample
Multistage Sampling
Making Estimates From Samples and Sampling Errors
How Big Should a Sample Be?
Sampling Error as a Component of Total Survey Error
Exercise
3. Nonresponse: Implementing a Sample Design
Calculating Response Rates
Bias Associated With Nonresponse
Reducing Nonresponse in Telephone or Personal Interview Surveys
Reducing Nonresponse to Mail Surveys
Reducing Nonresponse to Internet Surveys
Multimode Data Collection
Correcting for Nonresponse
Nonprobability (or Modified Probability) Samples
Nonresponse as a Source of Error
Exercise
4. Methods of Data Collection
Major Issues in Choosing a Strategy
Summary Comparison of Methods
Conclusion
Exercise
5. Designing Questions to Be Good Measures
Increasing the Reliability of Answers
Avoiding Multiple Questions
Types of Measures/Types of Questions
Increasing the Validity of Factual Reporting
Increasing the Validity of Answers Describing Subjective States
Question Design and Error
Exercises
6. Evaluating Survey Questions and Instruments
Defining Objectives
Preliminary Question Design Steps
Presurvey Evaluation
Design, Format, and Layout of Survey Instruments
Field Pretests
Survey Instrument Length
Conclusion
Exercise
7. Survey Interviewing
Overview of Interviewer Job
Interviewer Recruitment and Selection
Training Interviewers
Supervision
Survey Questions
Interviewing Procedures
Validation of Interviews
The Role of Interviewing in Survey Error
Exercise
8. Preparing Survey Data for Analysis
Formatting a Data File
Constructing a Code
Approaches to Coding and Data Entry
Data Cleaning
Coding and Data Reduction as Sources of Errors in Surveys
9. Ethical Issues in Survey Research
Informing Respondents
Protecting Respondents
Benefits to Respondents
Ethical Responsibilities to Interviewers
Conclusion
10. Providing Information About Survey Methods
Exercise
11. Survey Error in Perspective
The Concept of Total Survey Design
Error in Perspective
Conclusion
References
Index
About the Author