Conducting Surveys

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Table of Contents

Requirements and Expectations for Conducting Surveys

Purpose of the Guide

Section 1: Definition and Required Practices

Professional requirements and expectations relating to respondent burden and informed consent

Section 2: Uses of Surveys

Introduction

Generalizing to a population

When is a survey appropriate?

Practical considerations

When to use a survey

Section 3: Planning the Survey

Which specific information needs may be addressable by a survey?

Can a survey provide the needed information?

Are aggregate statements about a population needed?

Can sufficiently reliable and valid data be collected?

Section 4: Sampling

Census or sample?

Unacceptable sampling procedures

Section 5: The Reliability and Validity of Survey Information

Introduction

Reliability, validity and significant error

Error as a source of bias

Controlling error

Section 6: Corroboration

Section 7: Advantages/ Disadvantages of Different Approaches to Collecting Data from Individuals

General considerations

Other considerations

Section 8: Developing and Verifying Data Collection Instruments

Relying on established instruments

Section 9: Anonymity and Confidentiality

Pledging anonymity and confidentiality

Protecting anonymity and confidentiality

Section 10: Maintaining Survey Integrity

Section 11: Managing, Processing, and Analyzing Survey Data

Errors in data collection

Transferring information to databases

Analysis

Section 12: Pre-Testing Data Collection Instruments

Principles for pre-testing

Pre-testing questionnaires

Section 13: Managing Non-response

Encouraging a high response rate

Adjusting for non-responses