a.) Discuss the problem which a researcher might encounter when conducting social surveys. Explain how to overcome the problems.
b.) Explain the advantages and dis advantages of using survey method.
According to chrishnaswami O.R (2003) social survey is defined as a fact finding study. It is a method of research involving the collection of data directly from a population or a sample there of a particular time. It must not be confused with the mere clerical routine of gathering and tabulating figures for it requires expert and imaginative planning careful and rational interpretation of findings. Omari I.M defined social survey research as probably the best method available to the social scientists interested in collecting original data for describing a population too large to observe directly. Survey may be used for descriptive explanatory and exploratory purposes. Although this method can be used for other units of analysis such as group or interactions it is necessary that some individual persons are used as respondents or informants.
In social survey data maybe collected by methods like observation, interviewing and questionnaires .social survey has the following characteristics, it is always conducted in a natural setting, it seeks responses directly from the respondents, it can cover a very large population and it covers a definite geographical area for instance a city, district or a state. The following steps are involved while collecting a survey.
The first step is selection of as problem and its formulation followed by the preparation of a research design then operation of concepts and construction of measuring indexes and scales then sampling then construction of tools for collection of data and their pretest then field work and calculation of data then processing data and tabulation then lastly reporting.
A researcher might encounter certain problems while conducting a survey study, the following are the problems which a researcher