Conducting a Survey
Conducting a survey involves gathering data from a sample of individuals to make inferences about a larger population. This process typically includes designing the survey questions, selecting the sample, collecting the data, and analyzing the results. In mathematics, survey data can be used for statistical analysis and to draw conclusions about a population.
3 Key excerpts on "Conducting a Survey"
eBook - ePubHigher Education Research Methodology
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Research Process
- Ben Kei Daniel, Tony Harland(Authors)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Even when there are no plans to generalize the findings from the sample to the population, summary or ‘descriptive’ statistics from the initial data analysis are essential. These allow the researcher to discern, for example, averages, general patterns and possible size effects. Summary statistics can also be used to construct graphs and scatter plots showing the dependent and independent variables. This step of visual representation gives the researcher more of a feel for how to interpret the data and study. We next provide an overview of sampling theory and sampling techniques. A brief account is provided on how to choose the correct procedure for hypothesis testing, of which we will say more below. Sampling Research outcomes and generalizations are only as good as the sample that generated the data. Sampling is a key part of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. It is a procedure for recruiting participants, subjects or other forms of data to a study because researchers nearly always study a sample of the whole population. Sampling strategy needs to take into account the characteristics and distribution of the population. The strategy is very important in quantitative research, and in particular for surveys, when outcomes and claims are based on statistical analyses. In a survey, the researcher decides on how many people will need to be included, what individual characteristics of participants are likely to influence responses to questions (random error) and the experimental conditions that might affect the overall quality of data (systematic error)...
eBook - ePubConducting a Survey
Techniques for a Term Project
- Lawrence T. Orcher(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Inferential statistics apply probability theory to assist in interpreting the data obtained from a sample when making inferences to a population. For instance, margins of error for averages and percentages (e.g., 55% +/- 3% approve of some course of action) are often reported in the results sections of research reports on surveys. The computation of margins of errors for percentages, means, and medians is illustrated in Chapters 11 and 12. While it is beyond the scope of this book to show the computation of significance tests, Appendix C provides an overview of their purpose. Preparing a Written Research Report on a Survey Research reports in the social and behavioral sciences have a standard organization and are written in an academic style. These characteristics are discussed and illustrated in Chapter 14. Standards for a Term-Project Survey Standards for a survey conducted as a term project can vary from course to course, depending on course objectives and students' levels of expertise. The following are some basic standards your instructor might consider in evaluating the report of your survey research...
- Bonita Kolb(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...The data can then be analyzed using descriptive statistics to find patterns in the responses. Descriptive statistics include frequency, central tendency and dispersion. These statistics will not only describe which responses were most frequently given but also the distribution of responses across the different available answers. Inferential statistics can then be used to determine statistical differences. ● To obtain more information on how the individual responses are distributed from the mean, the researchers will need to use statistical measures of dispersion. These include range, variance and standard deviation. Tests of statistical significance can be used to conduct hypothesis testing. Research analysis process A tourism organization will have spent a considerable amount of time planning the research process including determining the research question and deciding upon the methodology that will best provide the answer. After these two major decisions, the organization then faced the task of finding participants. Finally, the organization conducted the research. After conducting the research, it is now time to analyze the research findings. The excitement of conducting the research is over, and the researchers may be ready to move on to a new project. This would be a mistake as just having data does not answer the research question. Without careful analysis of the data, recommendations cannot be made and the entire research process would be wasted. There may be an assumption that all that is needed is to print out the data and present it in a report. The problem is that people who do not regularly conduct research may not understand the meaning of the data. The research data needs to be interpreted to provide information which can be used to make decisions. The analysis process varies dramatically depending on whether quantitative or qualitative research has been conducted...
