Survey and Its Types: An Overview of Research Methodology

This report provides an overview of survey as a research method and its different types, including interview, focus group, telephonic, mail-in, and online survey. It also includes a critical review of literature on the effectiveness and limitations of survey method in research.

SURVEY AND ITS TYPES

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Research is one of the important aspect that enable the emergence of new idea and concept.
It can be performed by various means, however by the mode of survey a larger proportion of
responded would be analysed in shorter time. Survey is usually based on group of people which
are demographically differ in perspective and ideologies. This report will discuss about the
concept of survey and the its type along with a critical review of literature.
MAIN BODY
Survey:
Survey is one of the major research method that includes various questions which is
based on making extraction of data from the specific group of people. It is an important research
method under which the information is gathered from the group of responded to evaluate the
research objectives. Under this method information is gathered from the responded through
various means that may include telephone, mail, internet and face to face interaction also. Survey
is usually performed by the means of asking questions through questionnaire from the responded.
It can be performed by various modes that may include:
Interview:
As per this method a face to face interaction would be made between the researcher and
the surveyor. This would be conducted through meeting or through online medium also. It can
also be performed as a household survey when the research is being performed to make an
analysis of personal objectives (Ward and Edwards, 2021). In case of in-person interview, the
answers will be recorded on camera so that the expert would make an analysis of the answers
that whether they are true or not.
Focus group:
It is also an important mode of survey under which a small group of demographically
variant is selected and then an analysis would be performed over that group. As per its name
suggest its meaning that focus group is a group which is kept in focus by researcher that would
lead to make the attainment of objective of research. It is an important method of research that
would enable to make the analysis and research on diverse range of people in a short span of
time.

Telephonic survey:
As per this method the information and research is performed on the basis of making
telephonic conversation. In this method the questions will be asked on telephone and data would
be gathered from responded. It is an oldest mode of survey which has now lost its advantage.
Mail-in Survey:
As per this method of survey the data is gathered from responder’s doorstep. This was
used before the period of internet wherein the researcher makes collection of data directly from
the doorstep of the responder (Williams and et.al., 2018). This was one of the oldest mode of
survey which involves a very low cost except the cost of postage and post.
Online survey:
It is one of the most effective and efficient mode of survey in which research is
performed through online mode. This is the best method in the world of digitalization wherein an
online data is gathered and collected. It is an efficient and time saving survey method that would
not only lead to make collection of data but at the same time it also enables the researcher to
make an analysis with more flexibility.
In accordance with the views of Iddris, (2018), survey is one of the best and most
effective mode of research that involves the collection of data from the responded in short and
cost effective mode. With the mode of survey, the data is gathered from the large proportion of
responded in a short period of time. Also as research involves the analysis of concept in a
detailed manner so with the aspect of survey the concept would not only be analysed but it
includes an inculcation of views of various responded that would make the research more
authenticate and valid.
However, on a contrary note Pederson and et.al., (2020) also argues that although survey
would be considered as one of the major method of research but on the same side with the
adoption of survey method, the chances of getting accurate results lower down. This means that
the authenticity of the research would lower down with the adoption of survey method. As
survey include a direct and indirect interaction of responded which may affect the quality of
outcome and research result. Likewise, a non-adoption of appropriate method would also result
in affecting the quality of research and its outcome.
The survey is one of the most important method that is used by the government and the
researcher in order to perform the research and in-depth analysis. With the aspect of survey not

only the research but the specific questions associated with the research is also addressed. This
would be understood as the survey which is which is performed on identification of infection rate
on covid cases and in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Infection Survey, UK: 17 September. 2021). This survey is based on the determination of covid-
19 infection rate in UK. This was performed on the basis of collection and testing of sample.
Also with the performance of survey not only the research would be accomplished but at the
same time it was also identified that the rate of spreading of covid among the countries was
spreading at an extensive rate. Although the rate has become uniform but still its percentage is
high.
With this survey not only the detailed analysis of the problem is performed but it has also
lead to determine the exact situation of covid cases in the country. This means that through
survey not only the problems analysed but it also assists the determination of actual situation so
that corrective and most appropriate actions would be taken by the concerned government as it
was performed in the survey of covid-19 infection rate determination.
Thus, in accordance of the views of Braun and et.al., (2020) survey is an important research
method that allow an in-depth analysis of the situation and the research issue and problem. With
the aspect of survey, the future trends and the corrective action in terms of research problem
would also be assisted. With this research method an analysis of the problem would be able to
perform not only in detailed manner but at the same time it also leads to an evaluation along with
finding solutions of the concerned problem.
Although survey is considered as one of the best method of research but as it is concerned
with the specified group of people, thus Vaske, (2019) states that survey is not right to be said as
most appropriate method of research because it includes the escaping of responded and thus it
results in the non-evaluation of in-depth study. As the survey is based on the analysis of the pre-
defined group of individuals and group so it can be said that the results obtained from the survey
are not accurate and authenticate because it involves the views if few individuals.
Survey can also be evidenced form the example of Portugal- Unemployment survey which
was based on the rate of unemployment. As per the survey it can be analysed that the rate of
unemployment is raising in 2021 when it is compared with the unemployment rate of 2020. This
means that the country is moving forwards towards the direction of growth with the raising rate
of employment.

Source: Portugal - Unemployment Rate, 2021
In Portugal, the survey of labour force is performed on the basis of sex. In regard to this
survey the main aim is to characterize the population in labour market. This survey was
conducted through computer-assisted interview with the use of mixed data collection method.
The initial interview was conducted on the basis of face to face mode but later on it was
conducted through telephonic mode.
As per the above graph it was directly analysed that the rate of unemployment in Portugal is
raising and high. This can be linked with the covid pandemic impact because in 2020 Quarter 2
the rate was lowest but after the outburst of covid the rate increased. This shows that the people
on the larger scale are unemployed in Portugal.
In the same way Kumar, (2018) also states that research method plays an important role in
the research. This means that with an adequate selection of research method, the quality of
research would be improved along with the performance of detailed analysis. In the same way
research method also need to be adopted as per the type of research i.e. its aims and objectives.
Ricci and et.al., (2019) also elucidates that questionnaire is one of the best method of
research that could be adopted. It includes the analysis of concept and information in detailed
manner. This would allow a direct interaction with the responded and thus improve the reliability
and authenticity of the research. With this mode the specific question based on research and the
individual selected responded would be able to gathered. This means that with this mode the
analysis would be able to perform in the detailed manner.

However, contrary to this Montabon, Daugherty and Chen, (2018) also annotates that apart
from questionnaire survey is the most suitable and best method of research if it is needed to be
done on an extensive scale i.e. at nationwide and global level. As with the increased area and
coverage of research, the number of responded would also be increased which would be analysed
only with the mode of survey method where the diverse group of responded are analysed. This
would along with enhancing the outcome of the research, would also lead to make the research
efficient.
Thus, it would be right to state that survey is one of the most common and effective method
used in research that enable the analysis of large proportion in the context of particular concept
and problem. Along with analysis it also assists the researcher to take suitable corrective steps in
the context of the problem so that the research would meet its objectives.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that survey is one of the most important method
that would lead to make the research effective. With the aspect of survey, a detailed analysis of
the concept would be able to accomplish. Survey would lead to make analysis of larger
proportion of people that would further strengthen the research and its outcome. Likewise, it is
also understood that with the mode of survey the research would be able to performed in a
detailed and in-depth manner.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Iddris, F., 2018. Digital supply chain: survey of the literature. International Journal of Business
Research and Management. 9(1). pp.47-61.
https://ideas.repec.org/a/aml/intbrm/v9y2018i1p47-61.html
Williams, and et.al., 2018, December. Cost effective mail survey design. In Federal Committee
on Statistical Methodology Research and Policy Conference, Washington, DC.
https://nces.ed.gov/FCSM/pdf/F4_Williams_2018FCSM.pdf
Kumar, R., 2018. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.
https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=J2J7DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Research+methodology:
+A+step-by-
step+guide+for+beginners&ots=cvoiFDRJjo&sig=NX0crAOLbO8Ma25atj0NSWu5iV
k&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Research%20methodology%3A%20A%20step-by-step
%20guide%20for%20beginners&f=false
Braun, and et.al., 2020. The online survey as a qualitative research tool. International Journal of
Social Research Methodology, pp.1-14.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13645579.2020.1805550
Ricci, and et.al., 2019. Qualitative methods used to generate questionnaire items: A systematic
review. Qualitative health research. 29(1). pp.149-156.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1049732318783186
Ward, J.M. and Edwards, K.A., 2021. Assessing the Link Between Survey Interview Method and
Survey Outcomes: Evidence from the CPS and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Labour
Economics, p.102060.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927537121000956
Vaske, J.J., 2019. Survey research and analysis. Sagamore-Venture. 1807 North Federal Drive,
Urbana, IL 61801.
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED605453
Pederson, and et.al., 2020. Use of secondary data analyses in research: Pros and Cons. Journal of
Addiction Medicine and Therapeutic Science. 6(1). pp.058-060.
https://www.peertechzpublications.com/articles/JAMTS-6-139.php
Online references
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 17 September 2021. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/
conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/
17september2021>
Portugal - Unemployment Rate., 2021. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.economy.com/portugal/unemployment-rate>
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