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Billy Kelly and Ann Long examine the use of the social survey design and discuss the various approaches available to social researchers. The authors address the strengths and limitations of the survey design and discuss the importance of effective planning from the conception of the idea for the study to the stage of data analysis.
According to Nachmias and Nachmias (1996) the survey is one of the most important data collection methods used in the social sciences, and as such is utilised extensively to collect information on numerous topics of research. Surveys are designed to generate information from given populations in order to establish prevalence, distribution and interrelationships of variables within the particular population that is the subject of investigation (Polit and Hungler 1995). May (1997) suggests that surveys through the use questionnaires measure characteristics or opinions of respondents and that, where necessary conditions can be met, generalisations can take place from the sample of people interviewed to the population as a whole. Bowling (1997) refers to the survey as a method of collecting information, from a sample of the population of interest, usually by personal interviews (face to face or telephone), postal or other self-completed questionnaires methods or diaries. Parahoo (1997) claims that surveys are associated with the collection of a wide range of data from large samples and are well suited to descriptive and correlation studies.
Population refers the total group of individuals or units involved in a particular study. A census refers to the collection of data from every single member of the population whereas a sample relates a subset of cases drawn from the total population. A sample that reflects accurately its population is said to be a representative sample and the results of a study, which are based on that sample might then be generalised to the wider population. However if the sample is not representative the results of research will be relevant only to the sample.
Descriptive surveys, as the term implies, make descriptive statements regarding the study population while the analytical approach explores associations between variables. One function of survey analysis is to describe the characteristics of a set of cases (De Vaus 1996). This means, for example, that when researchers are aiming to describe how a...