Deck 8: Surveys: Questioning and Sampling

Question 1

According to Box 8.1, which of the following is true of open-ended questions?

A) They work best in questionnaire surveys where respondents have more time to respond.
B) They are easier to analyze than closed-ended questions.
C) They can provide in-depth understanding.
D) They work best in structured interviews.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to Box 8.1, compared to closed-ended questions, open-ended questions

A) are more frequently used in structured surveys.
B) should only be used in mail questionnaires or Web surveys.
C) are easier to analyze.
D) require more effort to answer.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The Constructing the Family Survey, described throughout Chapter 8,

A) is a panel survey.
B) uses only closed-ended questions.
C) has a target population consisting of all undergraduate students in the United States.
D) is a telephone interview survey.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Computer-assisted self-interviews (CASI)

A) replace the interviewer.
B) make the interviewer's job easier.
C) depend on the computer skills of the respondent.
D) depend on the computer skills of the interviewer.

Question 5

Which survey mode is least costly and takes the least amount of time?

A) Face-to-face interview
B) Telephone interview
C) Mailed questionnaire
D) Internet survey

Question 6

Which of the following sequences is correct regarding the process of planning and conducting a survey?

A) Choose sampling frame $\rightarrow$ design sample $\rightarrow$ choose survey mode $\rightarrow$ recruit respondents
B) Choose survey mode $\rightarrow$ construct questionnaire $\rightarrow$ pretest $\rightarrow$ collect data
C) Construct questionnaire $\rightarrow$ pretest $\rightarrow$ choose survey mode $\rightarrow$ collect data
D) Pretest $\rightarrow$ choose survey mode $\rightarrow$ recruit respondents $\rightarrow$ collect data

Question 7

According to Box 8.2, what is the major wording problem with the following question: "Do you approve of the irresponsible person who would drive after having several drinks?"?

A) Inappropriate vocabulary
B) Leading question
C) Lack of precision
D) Double-barreled

Question 8

According to Box 8.2, what is the major wording problem with the following question (asked of respondents who say they drink beer): "When you drink beer, how much, on the average, do you usually drink at any one time: quite a bit, a moderate amount, or very little?"?

A) Inappropriate vocabulary
B) Leading question
C) Lack of precision
D) Double-barreled

Question 9

According to Box 8.2, what is the major wording problem with the following question: "How satisfied are you with the number and fairness of the tests in this course?"?

A) Inappropriate vocabulary
B) Leading question
C) Insensitive wording
D) Double-barreled

Question 10

Which of the following questions would serve best as the opening question for a questionnaire study of campus alcohol use?

A) Do you ever drink alone?
B) Would your father approve of your present drinking habits?
C) What is your major?
D) Do you presently drink beer, liquor, or wine?

Question 11

Random-digit dialing in telephone surveys serves to

A) increase response rates.
B) increase sample quality by reaching respondents with unlisted numbers.
C) decrease the cost of telephone surveys by reducing dialing time.
D) increase sample size.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of coding and editing survey data?

A) Both processes occur after data collection.
B) Coding of open-ended questions requires a separate code for each response.
C) Editing is unnecessary in well-conducted surveys.
D) Most coding and editing is programmed into computer-assisted and online surveys.

Question 13

Surveys rarely contain closed-ended questions.

Question 14

Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) eliminates the need for a live interviewer.

Question 15

Face-to-face interviews tend to generate lower response rates than other survey modes.

Question 16

Choice of survey mode and choice of sampling frame are interdependent.

Question 17

A good source of survey questions is questions developed by other researchers.

Question 18

Access impediments, declining response rates, and increasing costs are making it more difficult to conduct surveys.

Question 19

Suppose the Office of Student Involvement at your college has decided to submit a grant proposal to conduct a campus survey of student volunteering. The aims of the survey are to document the level of volunteering among current students, who volunteers, the kinds of volunteer activities in which students engage, and their motivations for volunteering. They have hired you as a research consultant to help them prepare the proposal. Carefully describe what you would recommend regarding (a) type of survey design, (b) type of survey questions (closed-ended/ open-ended), (c) choice of survey mode, (d) choice of sampling frame, and (e) sampling design. Be sure to justify your recommendations by describing the pros and cons of each.

Question 20

In what ways is the choice of a survey mode crucial to the design and planning of a survey? How does it affect (a) time and cost, (b) type of questions that can be asked, (c) choice of sampling frame, and (d) quality of the sample?

Question 21

A student planning a survey on altruism seeks your advice. She is interested in documenting the level of altruism at her college, plans to do a Web survey, and is trying to figure out what questions to ask.
(a) Below are three of the many questionnaire items she is considering as possible measures of altruism. Focusing on the wording or language of the questions, carefully explain what is wrong with each item.
(1) Do you care about the homeless people in this country? [yes] [no]
(2) Do you regularly offer assistance to strangers? [yes] [no]
(3) Do you and your family contribute to United Way? [yes] [no]
(b) How would you revise each item to make it acceptable?
(c) Aside from your feedback on these items, what advice would you give her regarding types of question and question order?
(d) What recommendations would you make regarding the administration of the survey?

Question 22

Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of surveys and experiments.