Glossaries
Survey Research
What is Survey Research?
Survey research is a systematic method of collecting data from a sample of people through standardized questionnaires or interviews to gather insights about their opinions, behaviors, or characteristics.
Synonyms: Questionnaire Research, Survey Method, Survey Data Collection, Opinion Polling
Why Survey Research is Important
Survey research is a cornerstone of user research, providing valuable insights into user preferences, behaviors, and needs. It allows researchers to gather quantitative and qualitative data from a large number of participants efficiently, making it an essential tool for informed decision-making in product development and user experience design.
How Survey Research is Conducted
- Define research objectives
- Design survey questions
- Select sampling method
- Distribute surveys (online, phone, mail, or in-person)
- Collect and analyze data
- Draw conclusions and make recommendations
Types of Survey Research
- Online Surveys: Web-based questionnaires
- Phone Surveys: Interviews conducted over the phone
- In-person Surveys: Face-to-face interviews or paper questionnaires
- Mail Surveys: Questionnaires sent and returned via postal mail
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between qualitative and quantitative survey questions?: Qualitative questions gather open-ended responses, while quantitative questions collect numerical or categorical data.
- How large should my survey sample size be?: The ideal sample size depends on factors like population size, confidence level, and margin of error. Generally, larger samples provide more accurate results.
- How can I increase survey response rates?: Offer incentives, keep surveys short, send reminders, and clearly communicate the survey's purpose and importance to participants.
- What are some common survey biases to avoid?: Be aware of response bias, social desirability bias, and sampling bias when designing and conducting surveys.