Qnt 561 Applied Business Research
Types of Surveys
QNT/561 - Applied Business Research and Statistics
5. In the following situations, decide whether you would use a personal interview, telephone survey, or self-administered questionnaire. Give your reasons.
a. A survey of the residents of a new subdivision on why they happened to select that area in which to live. You also wish to secure some information about what they like and do not like about life in the subdivision.
To survey residents of a new subdivision, I would use personal interview for this scenario. It would provide more detail about life in the subdivision and why they selected the area in which to live. There would be various different answers for both questions by the residents which could not easily be covered in a self-administered questionnaire. Since this is targeted to residents of a new subdivision, travel expenses would not be very high as compared surveying people across the country, and depending on how new the subdivision is, residents may not have phone service yet. This would cause issues with …show more content…
using telephone surveys. Personal interviews would also provide a way to welcome residents to the neighborhood and try to make them feel more welcome. This may relax the resident and make them feel more comfortable about sharing information. The interviewer can note conditions during the interview such as the resident’s body language, attitude, etc. The interviewer can also probe or redirect questions if as needed.
b. A poll of students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates who are running for president of the student government.
To poll students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates, I would use a self-administered questionnaire.
The self-administered questionnaire could be comprised of three choices to choose from. It is fast and simple for the students to fill out and it gives them anonymity if they want it. For the surveyors, the self-administered questionnaire provides fast results, relatively low cost, and can reach more students than you may be able to with telephone surveys or personal interviews. Since most students move every year, personal residency information may be hard to gather. The topic is not long or complicated and the survey could even be administered through email which every student would have through the University. The self-administered survey appears to be the best method of reaching the highest number of students and making it simple to respond would allow the highest percentage of
responses.
c. A survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies, scattered over the eastern United States, on their personnel management policies for warehouse personnel.
To survey 58 wholesale grocery companies scattered over the eastern United States, I would use a telephone survey. A personal interview would be costly with time and travel to all of the locations. While contacting executives for a phone survey may be difficult, in this scenario about management policies for warehouse personnel, executives do not necessarily have to be the ones being surveyed. People in positions such as Human Resources may be able to answer the survey questions. Specific questions can be developed and asked, so there is not a lot of detail or expanding on the questions needed. According to Cooper and Schindler (2006), “if someone is present, a ringing phone is usually answered.” This is probably even truer when calling a business. When at home, a person may screen their calls during dinner time, but when at work, most people answer the phone all day long if they are at their desk. I feel this gives a high percentage of contacting someone and being able to ask the survey questions.
d. A survey of financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations to learn their predictions for the economic outlook in their industries in the next year.
At first I thought the best way to survey financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations would be a telephone survey. This would provide interaction with the individual and not limit their thoughts to specific questions on the survey. However, after reading the chapters this week, the self-administered questionnaire may be the better method. Since corporate executives have secretaries or assistants, it may be difficult to actually reach the financial officers over the telephone (Cooper & Schindler, 2006). By sending a self-administered questionnaire, the financial officers can fill it out and return it when they have the time available. Although the self-administered survey may not result in the best or most complete data, it may be the best type of survey for this situation because of the targeted audience.
e. A study of applicant requirements, job tasks, and performance expectations as part of a job analysis of student work-study jobs on a college campus of 2,000 students, where 1,500 are involved in the work-study program.
Similar to part “b” above, I would use a self-administered questionnaire to research 1,500 students in a work-study program. The questionnaire can be administered via email to the student’s university email address which would save on postage and printing. The survey would be inexpensive to administer and the results would be quick and simple for both parties involved. The self-administered questionnaire would reach more students then a personal interview and be easier to reach the students then a telephone survey would be. Although this survey is not as simplistic as part “b” above, there is still limited information being asked about the work-study program and could be easily covered with this type of survey. The self-administered questionnaire would also provide anonymity to the students if they had concerns, issues or dislikes within the work-study program. Most students regularly communicate via email and the internet as well, so there are fewer worries about them actually seeing the survey as there may be with other targeted audiences.
References
Cooper, D.R., & Schindler, P.S. (2006). Business Research Methods. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/classroom.aspx.
QNT/561 - Applied Business Research and Statistics
5. In the following situations, decide whether you would use a personal interview, telephone survey, or self-administered questionnaire. Give your reasons.
a. A survey of the residents of a new subdivision on why they happened to select that area in which to live. You also wish to secure some information about what they like and do not like about life in the subdivision.
To survey residents of a new subdivision, I would use personal interview for this scenario. It would provide more detail about life in the subdivision and why they selected the area in which to live. There would be various different answers for both questions by the residents which could not easily be covered in a self-administered questionnaire. Since this is targeted to residents of a new subdivision, travel expenses would not be very high as compared surveying people across the country, and depending on how new the subdivision is, residents may not have phone service yet. This would cause issues with …show more content…
using telephone surveys. Personal interviews would also provide a way to welcome residents to the neighborhood and try to make them feel more welcome. This may relax the resident and make them feel more comfortable about sharing information. The interviewer can note conditions during the interview such as the resident’s body language, attitude, etc. The interviewer can also probe or redirect questions if as needed.
b. A poll of students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates who are running for president of the student government.
To poll students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates, I would use a self-administered questionnaire.
The self-administered questionnaire could be comprised of three choices to choose from. It is fast and simple for the students to fill out and it gives them anonymity if they want it. For the surveyors, the self-administered questionnaire provides fast results, relatively low cost, and can reach more students than you may be able to with telephone surveys or personal interviews. Since most students move every year, personal residency information may be hard to gather. The topic is not long or complicated and the survey could even be administered through email which every student would have through the University. The self-administered survey appears to be the best method of reaching the highest number of students and making it simple to respond would allow the highest percentage of
responses.
c. A survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies, scattered over the eastern United States, on their personnel management policies for warehouse personnel.
To survey 58 wholesale grocery companies scattered over the eastern United States, I would use a telephone survey. A personal interview would be costly with time and travel to all of the locations. While contacting executives for a phone survey may be difficult, in this scenario about management policies for warehouse personnel, executives do not necessarily have to be the ones being surveyed. People in positions such as Human Resources may be able to answer the survey questions. Specific questions can be developed and asked, so there is not a lot of detail or expanding on the questions needed. According to Cooper and Schindler (2006), “if someone is present, a ringing phone is usually answered.” This is probably even truer when calling a business. When at home, a person may screen their calls during dinner time, but when at work, most people answer the phone all day long if they are at their desk. I feel this gives a high percentage of contacting someone and being able to ask the survey questions.
d. A survey of financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations to learn their predictions for the economic outlook in their industries in the next year.
At first I thought the best way to survey financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations would be a telephone survey. This would provide interaction with the individual and not limit their thoughts to specific questions on the survey. However, after reading the chapters this week, the self-administered questionnaire may be the better method. Since corporate executives have secretaries or assistants, it may be difficult to actually reach the financial officers over the telephone (Cooper & Schindler, 2006). By sending a self-administered questionnaire, the financial officers can fill it out and return it when they have the time available. Although the self-administered survey may not result in the best or most complete data, it may be the best type of survey for this situation because of the targeted audience.
e. A study of applicant requirements, job tasks, and performance expectations as part of a job analysis of student work-study jobs on a college campus of 2,000 students, where 1,500 are involved in the work-study program.
Similar to part “b” above, I would use a self-administered questionnaire to research 1,500 students in a work-study program. The questionnaire can be administered via email to the student’s university email address which would save on postage and printing. The survey would be inexpensive to administer and the results would be quick and simple for both parties involved. The self-administered questionnaire would reach more students then a personal interview and be easier to reach the students then a telephone survey would be. Although this survey is not as simplistic as part “b” above, there is still limited information being asked about the work-study program and could be easily covered with this type of survey. The self-administered questionnaire would also provide anonymity to the students if they had concerns, issues or dislikes within the work-study program. Most students regularly communicate via email and the internet as well, so there are fewer worries about them actually seeing the survey as there may be with other targeted audiences.
References
Cooper, D.R., & Schindler, P.S. (2006). Business Research Methods. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/classroom.aspx.