Advantages & Disadvantages
   Advantages of using surveys:
    • Respondents can answer large numbers of quesitons rapidly
    • Large numbers of respondents
    • With appropriate sampling, you can make broader generalizaitons 
     about much larger populations
   Disadvantages:
    • Problems with question formats
    • Most survey designs do not allow us to assess casual relationships 
     (as in cause & effect)
    • Unwillingness of people to participate
    • Having to decide whether results are valid
    Types of Surveys
    Cross-sectional
      • Capture what’s going on at one point in time, i.e. an opinion poll.
    Trend
      • Measure the same items over time but draw different samples from the 
       population each time. 
    Panels
      • Group of individuals is sampled and recruited, and the same folks answer 
       questions over time.
    Cohorts
      • Groups of people defined, most typically, by having an event in common, 
       i.e. surveying all female corporate executives born in 1980.
    Cross-lagged
      • Measure a dependent variable and an independent variable at two points in 
       time, i.e. asking different campus groups questions about the same 
       controversy.
  Issues with sampling
  • Researchers are tasked with the responsibility of making 
   sure that the groups being surveyed are representative, if 
   their aim is to make claims about larger populations.
  • If sampling is being done on a smaller scale, the issue of 
   accurate representation is still a factor, but it stems more 
   from sampling size. For ex. if you’re polling PSUGA 
   students on an issue and only get 35 respondents to 
   participate, it would be irresponsible to utilize that data as 
   representing the entire student body’s position. 
   On Writing Questions
   • The function of question formats is to clarify both the 
    question and response options as far as possible for 
    respondents while giving researchers relevant categories 
    of answers that will help them analyze results.
   • Some questions are easier than others for respondents to 
    answer and so researchers need to spend a lot of time 
    crafting questions that are both intelligible and appropriate 
    to their needs.
   Question Formats
   • Open-Ended – allow respondents to answer in their own words. 
    Advantage is insights not gleaned with highly structure questions. 
    Disadvantage is that they are extremely time consuming to code
   • Dichotomous – force respondents to choose one of two possible 
    answers. Advantage is simplifying data coding and analysis. 
    Disadvantage is over-simplification.
   • Multiple-Choice – provide several possible answers
   • Likert Scale – statements (not questions) with which respondents 
    are asked to locate their level of agreement, e.g. between “strongly 
    agree” and “strongly disagree.” 
   • Semantic Differential Scale – present a topic or concept followed by 
    scales anchored at each end by words that have opposite meaning, 
    e.g. “strong” and “weak.” Researchers need to make sure that the 
    words used best capture opposite sentiments