Deciding on the Data Collection Methods to use
Most Lifestyle Surveys to-date in the UK have used postal survey
methods to collect the data. This is likely to be due to a number of
reasons:
- The need to have large-scale data sets at a local level - and
the cost of obtaining these. In general, face-to-face
interview surveys are most
expensive, followed by telephone surveys, followed by postal
surveys.
- Web or email surveys can be cheaper than postal surveys, but
many researchers have concern over bias in the response obtained.
- The availability of funding - accessing funding to undertake the
administration of postal surveys is usually easier than funding
face-to-face interview surveys.
- The need to have personal and considered responses from the
individual respondent. Some argue that obtaining responses to
questions on lifestyle is best achieved using self-completion
methods (although many government and other surveys use interview
methods).
When deciding on the method to use in your lifestyle survey, a range
of other issues should also be considered:
- If I use a postal survey method, how will I maximise the
response?
- How should I avoid bias - in which certain groups fail to
respond?
- How should I ensure 'hard-to-reach' groups are represented in
the survey response?
- Are postal survey methods appropriate where literacy levels are
low?
One option to consider here is a multi-mode approach - perhaps where
self-completion is used for the main element of the survey and an
interview survey is used for sub-groups. For more information on data
collection methods in Lifestyle Surveys in particular,
click here. |
