The task of selecting the appropriate survey method is crucial to the efficiency of the overall survey effort. The choice of survey method will usually be the result of a compromise between the quantity of data collected, the quality of data collected and the resources available for the survey. A trade-off occurs because it is impossible to control all three of these factors; at best, only two of the three can be controlled by the survey designer. Thus given a fixed budget, as is normally the case, the selection of the survey method, with an associated degree of quality control, will automatically control the quantity of data which can be collected. Alternatively, within a fixed budget, specification of the quantity of data to be collected will immediately dictate the quality of data which can be collected. That is, we can collect lots of lower quality data or we can collect a limited amount of higher quality data for a given budget. Generally, the latter course of action is to be preferred.
The issues involved in the selection of a survey method are covered in this chapter.
3.0 TRADE-OFFS IN SURVEY METHOD SELECTION
3.1 TIME FRAME FOR SURVEY
3.1.1 Longitudinal Surveys
3.2 TYPES OF DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE
3.2.1 Documentary Searches
3.2.2 Observational Surveys
3.2.3 Household Self-Completion Surveys
3.2.4 Telephone Surveys
3.2.5 Intercept Surveys
3.2.6 Household Personal Interview Surveys
3.2.7 Group Surveys
3.2.8 In-Depth Interviews
3.3 SUMMARY OF SURVEY METHOD SELECTION