- Survey is the most widely used sociological method.
- It is best suited for quantitative and positivist research.
- Information collected through surveys can be analysed through use of statistical techniques, mathematical models and computer simulations.
- It is a comprehensive perspective on some subject based on information obtained from a carefully chosen representative set of people.
- Now-a-days, online surveys are popular.
- Le Play is considered the father of modern social survey.
Types of Survey
- Longitudinal survey research: Longitudinal survey research involves conducting survey research over a continuum of time and spread across years and decades. The data collected using this survey research method from one time period to another is qualitative or quantitative.
- Cross-sectional survey research: Researchers conduct a cross-sectional survey to collect insights from a target audience at a particular time interval. This survey research method is implemented in various sectors such as retail, education, healthcare, SME businesses, etc. Cross-sectional survey research can either be descriptive or analytical.
Advantages
Generalise results for a large population from a small sample.
The bigger the sample, the more representative it is.
Efficient and less time consuming.
Convenient data gathering (eg: through email)
Disadvantages
Results may provide only superficial information.
Differences in the way questions are asked or answered can introduce errors into the survey.
Questions that bear controversies may not be precisely answered by the participants
