11/10/2022
5. Survey data collection
The methods used to collect survey data have evolved with time. Researchers have increasingly moved away from paper surveys to using quick, online questionnaires for survey data collection methods, has their pros and cons. In most cases, the researcher has to use different ways to collect the requisite data from a sample.
The survey response rates of each method vary as multiple factors like time, interest, incentive, etc. play a role in the data collection process.
In the section above, we have looked at survey data collection methods based on design, cross-sectional research, and longitudinal surveys. This method will look at the four main survey data collection methods based on their implementation. They are:
Online: Online surveys have now become the most widely used survey data collection method. A wide variety of advanced and straightforward question types are available in online surveys. The data collection and data analysis are now structured and easy to manage. The survey response online is very high compared to other research options.
Telephone: Telephone surveys are cheaper than face-to-face surveys and less time-consuming. Contacting respondents via the telephonic medium requires less effort and human resources. Still, the survey response rate could be debatable as respondents aren’t very trusting to give out information on the call. In this survey data collection method, the researcher also has less scope to digress from the survey flow.
Face-to-face: Face-to-face surveys are on the most widely used methods of survey data collection. The survey response rate in this survey data collection method is always higher because the respondent trusts the researcher since it is in-person. The survey design in this research method is planned well in advance, but there is much scope to digress to collect in-depth data.
Paper or print: The least used survey data collection method that is now being used primarily on field research is paper surveys. Researchers and organizations are moving away from using this method since they are logistically tough to manage and tough to analyze. These can be used where laptops, computers, and tablets cannot go, and hence they use the age-old method of data collection; pen and paper.
6. Survey Data Analysis
When you conduct a survey, you must have access to its analytics. While manual surveys based on pen and paper or excel sheets require the additional workforce to be analyzed by experienced data analysts, it becomes much simpler when using an online survey platform.
Statistical analysis can be conducted on this survey data to make sense of all the data that has been collected. There are multiple methods of survey data analysis, mostly for what is quantitative data. Most of the commonly used types are:
Cross-tabulation is one of the most straightforward statistical analysis tools that use a basic tabulation framework to make sense of data. Raw survey data can be daunting, but structuring that data into a table helps draw parallels between different research parameters. It involves data that is mutually exclusive to each other.
Trend analysis provides the ability to look at survey data over a long period. This statistical analysis method of survey data helps plot aggregated response data over time, which helps to conclude the change in respondent perception over time.
MaxDiff analysis is a research technique to help understand customer preferences across multiple parameters. For example, a product’s pricing, features, marketing, etc., become the basis for Maxdiff analysis. In a simplistic form, this method is also called the “best-worst” method. This method is similar to conjoint analysis but much easier to implement.
Conjoint analysis is an advanced statistical research method that aims to understand a person’s choices in selecting a product or service. This method offers in-depth insights into what is vital to customers and what parameters sway their purchasing decisions.
TURF Analysis or Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency Analysis, is a statistical research methodology that assesses the total market reach of a product, service, or mix of both. Organizations widely use this method to understand at what frequency their messaging is reaching the audience and if that needs tweaking. TURF Analysis is widely used to formulate and measure the success of go-to-market strategies.
Gap analysis uses a side-by-side matrix question type that helps regulate the difference between expected performance and actual performance. This statistical method for survey data helps understand what has to move production from practical to planned performance.
SWOT analysis, another widely used statistical way organizes survey data into data that represents strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of an organization or product or service that provides a holistic picture of competition. This method helps to create effective business strategies.
Text analysis is an advanced statistical method where intelligent tools make sense of and quantify or fashion qualitative and open-ended data into easily understandable data. This method is applied to unstructured data.