Deck 9: Survey Research

Question 1

Many researchers believe that at least a 50 percent response rate must be achieved in order to be reasonably confident that the survey results will be representative of the population from which the survey sample was selected.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Questions that actually pose two questions are referred to as a double-barrelled question.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The following is an example of a well designed question: Do you agree or disagree that taxes should not be raised again this year?

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A contingency question creates a skip pattern.

Question 5

In an open-ended question responses are mutually exclusive.

Question 6

Socially desirable responses are a common problem in electronic surveys.

Question 7

The following question appeared in a survey: "Do you agree or disagree with the statement, More taxes should be spent on welfare." This is an example of a leading question.

Question 8

In surveys, ALL questions' response choices must be mutually exclusive and exhaustive.

Question 9

Interpretive questions are less important on surveys that have not been thoroughly pretested.

Question 10

Mailed surveys, phone surveys, and electronic surveys are usually self-administered.

Question 11

Cognitive interviews are done to find out how the respondent understood the question.

Question 12

Unlisted numbers in phone surveys create a major selection bias, especially with random-digit-dialing.

Question 13

Survey research organizations have increased the usual number of phone contact attempts from 4-8 to 20.

Question 14

High income people tend to participate less in surveys about income and economic behavior.

Question 15

Electronic surveys can be either sent via e-mail or posted on a website.

Question 16

The most important drawback to electronic surveys is the large fraction of households that are not yet connected to the Internet.

Question 17

In-person interviews are the strongest survey design and are preferable when sufficient resources and a trained staff is available.

Question 18

Anonymity requires that no identifying information is EVER recorded to link respondents with their responses.

Question 19

Decentering is a method for making different language versions of a survey.

Question 20

Match the key term with its description:
-Double-barreled question

A) Person who chooses a survey answer but does not really know
B) Person who chooses a neutral response
C) Question that creates a skip pattern
D) Two questions in one

Question 21

Match the key term with its description:
-Filter question

A) Person who chooses a survey answer but does not really know
B) Person who chooses a neutral response
C) Question that creates a skip pattern
D) Two questions in one

Question 22

Match the key term with its description:
-Fence sitter

A) Person who chooses a survey answer but does not really know
B) Person who chooses a neutral response
C) Question that creates a skip pattern
D) Two questions in one

Question 23

Match the key term with its description:
-Floater

A) Person who chooses a survey answer but does not really know
B) Person who chooses a neutral response
C) Question that creates a skip pattern
D) Two questions in one

Question 24

Match the key term with its description:
-Interview schedule

A) The influence of question order on how questions are answered
B) Questions added to a survey to help interpret respondents' answers
C) Follow-up questions to see how a question was interpreted by respondents
D) A set of questions used for an in-person or phone survey

Question 25

Match the key term with its description:
-Cognitive interview

A) The influence of question order on how questions are answered
B) Questions added to a survey to help interpret respondents' answers
C) Follow-up questions to see how a question was interpreted by respondents
D) A set of questions used for an in-person or phone survey

Question 26

Match the key term with its description:
-Interpretive questions

A) The influence of question order on how questions are answered
B) Questions added to a survey to help interpret respondents' answers
C) Follow-up questions to see how a question was interpreted by respondents
D) A set of questions used for an in-person or phone survey

Question 27

Match the key term with its description:
-Context effects

A) The influence of question order on how questions are answered
B) Questions added to a survey to help interpret respondents' answers
C) Follow-up questions to see how a question was interpreted by respondents
D) A set of questions used for an in-person or phone survey

Question 28

Advantages of survey research include which of the following?

A) Versatility
B) Efficiency
C) Generalizability
D) All of the above
E) a and b only

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT an error of nonobservation?

A) Nonresponse can distort the sample when individuals refuse to respond.
B) Nonresponse can distort the sample when individuals cannot be contacted.
C) Coverage of the population is inadequate due to a poor sampling frame.
D) Cases that have been surveyed are subject to poor measurement.
E) The process of random sampling can result in sampling error.

Question 30

The single most important concern for survey researchers is:

A) Sampling
B) Generalizability
C) Causal validity
D) Selecting good questions
E) Response rate

Question 31

When attempting to construct culturally sensitive instruments when research subjects do not speak English well, researchers should:

A) Use bilingual interviewers.
B) Translate the questions into the language of respondents.
C) Pretest the questions
D) Use back-translation
E) All of the above

Question 32

A "telescoping effect" is a problem of:

A) Memory
B) Agreement
C) Vague question
D) Response set

Question 33

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using an in-person survey, compared to a self-administered survey and a telephone survey.