Types of Survey Research

Based on Objective

Exploratory Survey Research

Exploratory survey research is aimed at finding out more about
the research context. The survey research pays attention to
discovering new ideas and insights about the research subject(s)
or contexts. Exploratory survey research is usually made up of
open-ended questions.
Predictive Survey Research
This type of research is also referred to as causal survey research
because it pays attention to the causative relationship between the
variables in the survey research. In other words, predictive survey
research pays attention to existing patterns to explain the
relationship between two variables.

Descriptive Survey Research

It is ideal for quantitative research because it helps you to gather
numeric data. The questions listed in descriptive survey research
helps to uncover new insights into the actions, thoughts, and
feelings of survey respondents.

Based on Data Source

Secondary Data
Secondary data is a type of data that has been collected from
primary sources in the past and is readily available for use. It is
the type of data that is already existing. Since secondary data is
gathered from third-party sources, it is mostly generic, unlike
primary data that is specific to the research context. Common
sources of secondary data in survey research include books, data
collected through other surveys, online data, data from
government archives, and libraries.

Primary Data
This is the type of research data that is collected directly; that is,
data collected from first-hand sources. Primary data is usually
tailored to a specific research context so that reflects the aims and
objectives of the systematic investigation.
One of the strongest points of primary data over its secondary
counterpart is validity. Because it is collected directly from first-
hand sources, primary data typically results in objective research
findings.

Based on Methodology

Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is a common research method that is used
to gather numerical data in a systematic investigation. It is often
deployed in research contexts that require statistical information
to arrive at valid results.
Qualitative Research
This is a method of systematic investigation that is used to collect
non-numerical data from research participants. In other words, it
is a research method that allows you to gather open-ended
information from your target audience.
 Survey Research Scales
Nominal Scale
This is a type of survey research scale that uses numbers to label
the different answer options in a survey.
Ordinal Scale
This is a type of variable measurement scale that arranges answer
options in a specific ranking order without necessarily indicating
the degree of variation between these options.
Interval Scale
It combines the attributes of nominal and ordinal scales since it is
used where there is order and there is a meaningful difference
between two variables.

Ratio Scale
The ratio scale is quantitative and it is used when you need to
compare intervals or differences in survey research. It is the
highest level of measurement.

Uses of Survey Research

Health Surveys

Survey research is used by health practitioners to gather useful

data from patients in different medical and safety contexts. It
helps you to gather primary and secondary data about medical
conditions and risk factors of multiple diseases and infections.
In addition to this, administering health surveys regularly helps
you to monitor the overall health status of your population;
whether in the workplace, school, or in communities. This kind
of data can be used to help prevent outbreaks and minimize
medical emergencies in these contexts.

Polls
Survey research is also useful when conducting polls; whether
online or offline. A poll is a data collection tool that helps you to
gather public opinion about a particular subject from a well-
defined research sample.

Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is one of the cores of every organization as
it is directly concerned with how well your product or service
meets the needs of your clients. Survey research is an effective
way to measure customer satisfaction at different intervals.

Survey Research Methods

Telephone Surveys
This is a means of conducting survey research via phone calls. In
a telephone survey, the researcher places a call to the survey
respondents and gathers information from them by asking
questions about the research context under consideration.

Online Surveys
An online survey is a data collection tool used to create and
administer surveys and questionnaires using data tools like
Formplus. Online surveys work better than paper forms and other
offline survey methods because you can easily gather and process
data from a large sample size with them.

Face-to-Face Interviews
Face-to-face interviews for survey research can be structured,
semi-structured, or unstructured depending on the research
context and the type of data you want to collect. For qualitative
data, unstructured and semi-structured interviews are the way to
go.
On the other hand, if you want to collect quantifiable information
from your research sample, conducting a structured interview is
the best way to go.

Case Study Method

1. P.V. Young. Case study is a comprehensive study of a social
unit, be it a person, a group of persons, an institution, a
community or a family.
2. Groode and Hatt. It is a method of exploring and analyzing
the life of a social unit.

Characteristics of Case Study method

1. Under this method the researcher can take one single social unit
or more of such units for his study purpose; it may even take a
situation to study the same comprehensively.
2. Here the selected unit is studied intensively i.e., it is studied in
minute details.
3. Through this method we try to understand the complex of
factors that are operative within a social unit as an integrated
totality.
4. Under this method the approach happens to be qualitative and
not quantitative.
5. In respect of the case study method an effort is made to know
the mutual inter-relationship of causal factors.
6. Under case study method the behaviour pattern of the
concerning unit is studied directly and not by an indirect and
abstract approach.
7. Case study method enables the generalized knowledge to get
richer and richer.

Stages in a Case Study Method of Data Collection

1. Recognition and determination of the status of the phenomenon

to be investigated or the unit of attention.
2. Collection of data, examination and history of the given
phenomenon.
3. Diagnosis and identification of causal factors as a basis for
remedial or developmental treatment.
4. Application of remedial measures.
5. Follow-up programme to determine effectiveness of the
treatment applied.