Introduction
When conducting a survey, a researcher has to conduct a series of interviews. These interviews are put in place to obtain as much relevant and reliable information as possible. In order to achieve an efficient survey, the interviews need to be conducted using well-guided and closely followed interviews. There are certain types of interview techniques that need to be followed in order for a survey to be effective. The essay that follows is going to use a list of three types of interview techniques namely, personal interview, telephone survey and the self-administered questionnaire to find answers to a list of survey questions. Using these three methods to conduct the survey will ensure that reliable information is got from the sources. The essay will give various answers using the most reliable kind of survey method that will be most effective in obtaining the most reliable information.
Personal interview and subdivision survey
When conducting a survey in a subdivision, intending to gain information from the residents of a newly established division to find out why they choose the area in which they live. During the survey, you also desire to obtain information about the dislikes and the likes of the new subdivision. When carrying out this type of survey, the most appropriate approach would be the use of a one on one interview. A personal interview in such a situation would be a recommendable method because it would ensure that the interviewer gains the most reliable and first-hand information. Using personal interviews entails face-to-face conversation where the interviewer will be able to have social cues, which is very important in such a survey as this one where the interviewer needs to interrogate people present in a subdivision. In such a case, the interviewer will be in close contact with the interviewees and standardization of the interviewee situation will be attainable (Abramson and Abramson, 1999, p. 13).
Self-administered survey and Metro University
Due to a large number of individuals to be interviewed during a poll of students at Metro University on the candidate they are inclined to opt for among the list of three candidates that are vying for the position of leader of the student government, a most effective survey method to be used among the three is to employ the self-administered questionnaire. This can be done in various ways including the use of a Paper & pencil survey and the use of sent mail that either can be an e-mail attachment or completed individually. These three techniques will enable the researcher to gain a large sample of information that runs throughout the university. It is also a favorable method because it limits the chances of interviewer biases that could be brought about by using personal interviews. An added advantage that comes with this kind of survey method is that a large number of individuals have their own kind of preferences concerning the president of the student government, therefore, using this method will ensure anonymity on both sides of the interviewer and interviewee because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Reliability of self-administered questionnaires
Wholesale companies that are in various areas of the eastern part of the United States give out more efficient and reliable information when they are approached with self-administered questionnaires that intend to shed light on issues dealing with personnel management. Such questionnaires are effective because a self-administered questionnaire would be able to cover a wide geographical region that corresponds to the 58 companies that are to be surveyed. A telephone survey would be time-consuming and more costly while a personal interview will be almost impossible due to the fact that the interviewer will need to walk connect from one place to another. An added advantage is that the researcher will be able to manage the sample answers that the interviewees give. Another benefit of using this survey method is that since wholesalers are usually busy people, they can be able to carry the questionnaires anywhere and answer them any time when they get an opportunity to do so. This type of questionnaire is also advantageous because sensitive information is obtained due to the anonymous nature of the questionnaire (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister, & Zechmeister, 2006, p. 23).
Telephone survey and Fort 500 corporations
A telephone survey is appropriate when conducting a survey of finical inspectors who are employed with Fortune 500 corporations to get knowledge on their anticipation in the coming year concerning the economic location in their concerned industry. This kind of survey ensures that the most reliable kind of information is obtained as compared to personal interviews and self-administered questionnaires because a disadvantage that comes with personal interviews is that some financial officers might be hesitant to share individual information. The problem of the self-administered questionnaire in such a survey will have ambiguity. A telephone survey will enable the interviewer to explore all sorts of avenues regarding the economic outlook of the financial officers. Another viable reason for using a telephone survey is the fact that the interviewer is conducting a survey that touches on a sensitive topic and therefore a telephone conversation is the best when conducting a survey that touches on a sensitive topic such as an economic outlook (Groves, 1989, p.14).
Applicant requirement and self-administered survey
A survey that involves a study of applicant requirements, their job tasks, in addition to the expectations they have towards performance which is conducted in aid of analysis for student work-study works that are present in a college campus. The student’s total number in the college is 2,000 students of which only 1,500 are concerned with the program. The survey would be best performed by using the self-administered questionnaire. The first advantage that comes with a self-administered questionnaire is the large number of individuals that are to be interviewed. The other two options that are the telephone survey will be more costly as compared to the questionnaire and a lot of time is consumed in getting the individual views of these students. A personal interview will be almost impossible to use first due to the great numbers of individuals that are to be interviewed and the high chances of interviewer biases would be reduced. To avoid the chances of all sorts of opinions coming from all these individuals, a self-administered questionnaire would ensure that the researcher has some form of control; over the directions of the possible opinions that the individuals might have. Therefore, using a self-administered questionnaire would be the best way to go when conducting a survey on 1,500 students involved in a work-study program.
Conclusion
To conclude, surveys are usually conducted when accurate and reliable information is required in order to complete a particular study. It is therefore important to consider the most efficient survey technique according to the kind of study you are conducting to ensure that the most reliable information is obtained. According to the essay above, self-administered questionnaires are the best kind to be used when conducting a survey that is likely to cover a wide geographical region or information from many individuals. Telephone and personal interviews are most effective when the survey involves a small number of individuals. In retrospect, a good survey method should be administered to ensure reliable and effective information is obtained.
Reference
Abramson, J. and Abramson, H. (1999). “Survey Methods in Community Medicine: Epidemiological Research, Programme Evaluation, Clinical Trials” (5th edition). London: Churchill Livingstone.
Groves, R. (1989). Survey Errors and Survey Costs. New York: Wiley.
Shaughnessy, J., Zechmeister, B., & Zechmeister, S. (2006). Research Methods in Psychology (Seventh Edition ed., pp. 143–192). New York, New York: Higher Education