Reflective Report on Survey Administration Method in Business Research

Reflective Report 1
ASSIGNMENT 2 PART B: REFLECTIVE REPORT
by (Name)
BMO6630 Business Research Methods
Tutor
Institution
Date

Reflective Report 2
Reflective Report
When doing research, one of the most important factors to consider is the research
design and the data collection method. Data is an essential aspect of research since it
determines the validity of research and significantly influences the research outcomes. One of
the most commonly used data collection method in the survey. According to Lee et al. (2009,
p. 2), survey research refers to a method of data collection where samples are drawn,
respondents interviewed, and data analyzed in order to represent a certain population. The
survey instrument provides an opportunity for a researcher to assess people's perceptions,
attitudes, and opinions on certain issues as well as factual knowledge in the given population
(Swidorski 1980, p. 5). According to Cooper et al. (2006), the types of surveys include
questionnaires and sampling. In this report, the survey administration methodology used is a
questionnaire.
Justification for Survey Administration method Used
Cost is one of the critical considerations when choosing a survey administration
method. Questionnaires are essential for describing the features of a large population, and
when compared to other data collection methods such as clinical trials experiments, it is the
most cost-effective method (Ponto 2015, p. 170). The main costs incurred when using
questionnaires are for printing or setting up online questions. Other costs may include postage
and for purchasing envelopes. Another reason for selecting questionnaire as the survey
administration method is to avoid bias. The questionnaires allow the respondents to provide
more valid and candid information (Singleton & Straits 2009, p. 15). Questionnaires enable
respondents to remain anonymous, and thus they can provide open and honest answers which
are impossible with other survey administration methods.

Reflective Report 3
Advantages and Disadvantages of the survey Administration Method used
Advantages
Questionnaires are flexible because they can be used in both qualitative and
quantitative research (Bird 2009, p. 1310). A questionnaire can have both close-ended and
open-ended questions. Whereas closed questions are used in quantitative research, open
questions are commonly used in qualitative research (Bird 2009, p. 1309). It is quite easy to
administer and analyse closed-ended questions and hence, save a lot of time (Sarantakos
2005). Open-ended questions, on the other hand, provide freedom to the respondents an
opportunity to test the hypothesis (McGuirk & O’Neill 2016). Questionnaires allow
researchers to obtain data from large samples of the population. Questionnaires are suited to
gather demographic data that actual features of the study sample (McIntyre 2011, p. 74).
Questionnaires provide an opportunity for time and space for free-form responses
through open-ended questions which allow participants to share their experiences,
understandings, opinions, and interpretations of social processes and situations (McGuirk &
O’Neill 2016). Questionnaires are also flexible regarding the types and number of variables
that can be used in the study and require a minimal budget to create and administer (Bell
2013, p. 68). Questionnaires are capable of eliciting information about attitudes which are
difficult to measure using other methods (McIntyre 2011, p. 75).
Disadvantages
One of the disadvantages of questionnaires is that they are not always the best tool for
collecting information (Debois 2016). For instance, if there is a previous data, questionnaires
may not be able to provide clear insight. As noted by Pinsonneault and Kraemer (1993),
questionnaires can be unsuitable where a reference to historical context is required.
Dishonesty can also be an issue, especially where there are many positives (Debois 2016).
Respondents sometimes do not provide truthful answers, and this can significantly affect the