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Policy Research 101 How to Design a Survey … and when and how to avoid it!

Explore key questions, formats, and techniques for effective survey design. Learn to optimize responses, entry, and analysis. Discover tools for web-based surveys and resources for further research. Contact Keith Curry Lance for expert assistance.

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Policy Research 101 How to Design a Survey … and when and how to avoid it!

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  1. Policy Research 101How to Design a Survey… and when and how to avoid it! Keith Curry Lance Consultant RSL Research Group

  2. Major Alternatives to Surveys • Available data • Focus group interviews • Key informant interviews • Observational studies • Experiments

  3. Key Questions • What do we need to know? • How will we use the information? • Who has it? • Are they an authoritative source? How willingly will they share it? • What kind of information is it? • Who, what, how often vs. how, why

  4. What questions to ask General format Item formats Structured responses Wording items Ordering items Maximizing usable returns Format for data entry Data entry & analysis Web-based surveys Sampling Design Administration Data processing Issues in Survey Design

  5. What Questions to Ask • Competence of respondent • Privacy of respondent • Relevance to issue • Needing v. wanting to know • Survey as educational tool

  6. General Format • Length • White space on page • Columns, back of page • Defining sections, spaces; emphasizing key items (lines, boxes, shading, placement)

  7. Item Formats • Open-ended questions • Structured responses: • Yes/no, true/false • multiple choice • check-off lists • ranking lists • Likert scales • Matrix items

  8. Structured Responses • Standardized ranges • Comprehensive, exhaustive • Mutually exclusive

  9. Wording Items • Neutrality, balanced viewpoints • Clear, brief items • Simple items (no compounds) • Redundant items (testing reliability)

  10. Ordering of Items • Logical sequence • Time sequence • Controversial item placement • Halo effect, response sets • Alternating item format

  11. Maximizing Usable Returns • Keep it short • “Bribery” to respond (reward, prizes) • Easing return (SASE, fold/refold) • Organizing to receive returns (addressee i.d., storage) • Follow-up mailings, calls

  12. Format for Data Entry • Numbering cases • Numbering items • Placing item numbers • Spacing responses • Using column, matrix items • Alternating item formats • Capturing numeric responses (check, circle; line, space, box)

  13. Data Entry and Analysis • Coding alpha, string responses (converting words to numbers) • Missing responses, pages • Unclear, illegible, inaccurate or multiple responses • Numbering cases • Spreadsheet, database, data entry, statistical software

  14. Web-Based Surveys • Sampling issues • Design issues • Administration issues • Data processing issues

  15. Web-Based Surveys:Sampling • Difficulty of random sampling • Self-selection factors • Sampling biases

  16. Web-Based Surveys:Design • Response format options (radials, toggles, drop-downs) • Controlling responses (single v. multiple response items, parameters, contingencies) • Opportunity for elaboration (contingencies, survey length)

  17. Web-Based Surveys: Administration • Authentication of respondents • Follow-up issues • Web form for data entry from paper

  18. Web-Based Surveys: Data Processing • Data delivery options (e-mail, text file, database file) • Data editing options (automatic edit/error checks)

  19. Tools for Survey Research • Links about survey research: http://www.lrs.org/resources.asp#surveys • Links about other research methods: http://www.lrs.org/resources.asp • Sample size, cooperation rate, and response rate calculators, random date generator, and other calculators: http://www.lrs.org/tools.asp

  20. Contact Information • Keith Curry Lance • Consultant, RSL Research Group • Tel. 303 466 1860 - Mobile 720 232 5866 • keithlance@comcast.net or • klance@RSLresearch.com • http://www.linkedin.com/in/keithcurrylance • http://www.RSLresearch.com

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