All of the following need to be considered when constructing a survey except

Surveys are easy to develop, especially when using the advanced survey software solutions available today. Many researchers are tempted to do much of their data collection online; however, it is not always the preferred mode of data collection, especially if respondents are in hard-to-reach areas. Whether a researcher uses an online survey, mobile survey, paper survey, or a combination of all modes, the mode should depend on the type of study and the demographics of respondents.

Online surveys and mobile surveys tend to be the most cost-effective modes of survey research, yet they may not reach those respondents that can only respond using alternate modes. Results of online surveys and mobile surveys may suffer and differ greatly if important respondents are left out of the research. Hard-to-reach respondents may be easier to reach using more traditional methods such as paper surveys or face-to-face interviews.

Advanced survey software platforms have multi-mode capabilities for online surveys, mobile surveys, email surveys, paper surveys, kiosk surveys, and more, giving researchers the ability to survey even the hardest-to reach consumers, and analyze data from all survey modes collectively.

The ability to reach respondents is one challenge of surveys. However, surveys have several advantages and disadvantages. They are as follows:

Advantages

• Relatively easy to administer
• Can be developed in less time (compared to other data-collection methods)
• Cost-effective, but cost depends on survey mode
• Can be administered remotely via online, mobile devices, mail, email, kiosk, or telephone.
• Conducted remotely can reduce or prevent geographical dependence
• Capable of collecting data from a large number of respondents
• Numerous questions can be asked about a subject, giving extensive flexibility in data analysis
• With survey software, advanced statistical techniques can be utilized to analyze survey data to determine validity, reliability, and statistical significance, including the ability to analyze multiple variables
• A broad range of data can be collected (e.g., attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values, behavior, factual).
• Standardized surveys are relatively free from several types of errors

Disadvantages

The reliability of survey data may depend on the following factors:

• Respondents may not feel encouraged to provide accurate, honest answers
• Respondents may not feel comfortable providing answers that present themselves in a unfavorable manner.
• Respondents may not be fully aware of their reasons for any given answer because of lack of memory on the subject, or even boredom.
• Surveys with closed-ended questions may have a lower validity rate than other question types.
• Data errors due to question non-responses may exist. The number of respondents who choose to respond to a survey question may be different from those who chose not to respond, thus creating bias.
• Survey question answer options could lead to unclear data because certain answer options may be interpreted differently by respondents. For example, the answer option “somewhat agree” may represent different things to different subjects, and have its own meaning to each individual respondent.  ‘Yes’ or ‘no’ answer options can also be problematic. Respondents may answer “no” if the option “only once” is not available.
• Customized surveys can run the risk of containing certain types of errors

Snap Survey Software

If you’re looking to create a survey, Snap Survey Software is a flexible and secure platform for data collection and analysis. You can create advanced surveys that collect reliable data, and use advanced data analysis and reporting features to obtain the insights you need.

Loaded question: Do you think there are more postgraduates (Master’s, PhD, MBA) because of the country’s weak economy?

The question also includes a false premise: the participant is required to agree that the economy is weak to answer. The question also imposes a causal relationship between the economy and postgraduate study that a person may not see. Loaded questions are inherently biased and push respondents into confirming a particular argument they may not agree with.

Double-barreled question: Would you like to be rich and famous?

Double-barreled questions are difficult for people to answer. A person might like to be rich but not famous and would thus have trouble responding to this question. Additionally, you don’t know whether they are responding to both parts of the question or just one.

Biased question: Do you agree that the President is doing a wonderful job on foreign policy?

Biased language that either triggers emotional responses or imposes your opinion can influence the results of your survey. Survey questions should be neutral, simple, and void of emotion.

Assumptive question: Do you have extra money after paying bills that you invest?

This question assumes that the participant has extra money after paying bills. When a person reads a question they feel is irrelevant to him or her, it can lead to attrition from the survey. This is why Logic Jump is useful—surveys should adapt to respondents’ answers so they can skip questions that don’t apply to them.

This question would be better asked in two parts: do you have extra money after paying bills? (If yes: Do you invest the extra money you have after paying bills?

Second-hand knowledge question: Does your community have a problem with crime?

Not only are ‘crime’ and ‘problem’ vague, it’s challenging for a layperson to report on something related to the community-at-large. The responses to the question wouldn’t be reliable. Stick to asking questions that cover people’s first-hand knowledge.

If you are trying to understand the prevalence of criminal acts, it would be better to ask: In the past 12 months, have you been the victim of a crime?

Hypothetical questions: If you received a $10,000 bonus at work, would you invest it?

People are terrible at predicting future behavior, particularly in situations they’ve never encountered. Behavior is deeply situational, so what a person might do upon receiving a bonus could depend on whether they had credit card debt, whether they needed to make an immediate purchase, the time of year, and so on.

What factors are considered when designing a survey?

Which of the following should not be included in a survey introduction?

What are the 7 steps to creating a good survey?

What are the 4 steps required to design and administer a questionnaire?