Different types of survey research help to collect data of a higher quality depending on the specifics of a particular study. In such a way, the differences in the research study, as well as formulating a research question affect the degree to which group, mailed, face-to-face, telephone, and web research can have certain advantages over the other types of research and questionnaires, especially in the field of criminology.
In such a way, group research is more effective in the context of criminological research, when it is possible to gain more information from a group of people than by questioning each particular individual (Forza 155). The possible research question, in such a case, can relate to the events that a group of people witnessed a while ago. The advantage of using the method of group research is that it is more effective for accessing collective memories, and by sharing associations and details about the events, a group of people will be able to remember more.
Mailed research differs from some of the other types of surveys in a way that it does not require any physical contact (Cobanoglu, Warde, and Moreo 442). Thus, in the context of criminological research, it can be used for confirming some information or obtaining a more detailed perspective. The research question in the case of mailed research would rather concern studying the environment of a particular area in terms of its safety or crime rates. The advantage of such research relies on the fact that since it does not require individual conversations with each of the interviewees, more people could take a survey. Unlike web research, the form of mailed research allows focusing on a specific area.
Face-to-face research can be used in the studies that require precise data from a specific individual. For example, it can concern details of a particular event witnessed by that individual. The advantage over the other types of research is that it allows the researchers to eliminate some of the external influences. Unlike in a group research, the individual would not impose the narrative of the other group member on his or her own experiences.
Whereas some types of research that do not require the physical presence of an interviewee do not take account of an emotional component, telephone research enables combining fast obtaining of information with the consideration for emotional reactions (De Leeuw 118). It is used, when a survey needs to be conducted quickly, but it is also important to know how the interviews themselves evaluate the information they provide. The possible research question may concern asking an individual or a group of people that has already been interviewed on the updates of information. Unlike other types of survey, it allows tracking an interviewee’s emotional responses by listening to voice and intonations but does not require as much time as face-to-face research (Singer, Van Hoewyk, and Maher 172).
Web research is used when a large amount of research information needs to be collected (Pealer et al. 552). The examples of such studies may include analyzing various factors of criminogenic nature, as well as studying an opinion of the large populations on particular issues. Such type of research is used when a research question is not addressed to a very narrow and specific group of people (Wright 91). The advantage of web research is that it allows the researchers to reach out to more people and obtain a larger amount of data.
Works Cited
Cobanoglu, Cihan, Bill Warde, and Patrick Moreo. “A Comparison of Mail, Fax and Web-Based Survey Methods.” International Journal of Market Research 43.4 (2001): 441-452. Print.
De Leeuw, Edith. Data Quality in Mail, Telephone and Face to Face Surveys. Amsterdam, Netherlands: TT Publikaties, 1999. Print.
Forza, Cipriano. “Survey Research in Operations Management: A Process-Based Perspective.” International Journal of Operations & Production Management 22.2 (2002): 152-194. Print.
Pealer, Robert, Morgan Weiler, David Miller, and Steve Dorman. “The Feasibility of a Web-Based Surveillance System to Collect Health Risk Behavior Data from College Students.” Health Education & Behavior 28.5 (2001): 547-559. Print.
Singer, Eleanor, John Van Hoewyk, and Mary Maher. “Experiments with Incentives in Telephone Surveys.” Public Opinion Quarterly 64.2 (2000): 171-188. Print.
Wright, Kevin. “Researching Internet‐Based Populations: Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Survey Research, Online Questionnaire Authoring Software Packages, and Web Survey Services.” Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication 10.3 (2005): 90-100. Print.