Survey Method of Data Collection

This research reviews the survey method of data collection. An overview of the survey method is presented, and current trends in survey data collection are considered. The significance of the survey method of data collection to human resource management is discussed, and the results of a survey of employees of the Sadie G. Mays Memorial Nursing Home are reviewed.

A survey is "a process of collecting data from existing population units, with no particular control over factors that may affect the population characteristics of interest in the study" (Pfaffenberger and Paterson, 1987, p. 13). Six specific steps are involved in the planning of a survey (Pfaffenberger and Paterson, 1987, pp. 1415). These steps are as follows: 1. A clear and detailed statement of the problem to be investigated must be developed. The problem statement should clearly indicate what is to be determined by the conduct of the survey (Pfaffenberger and Paterson, 1987, pp. 1415).2. A decision must be made with respect to the number of subjects to be surveyed. The choice in this instance is between a census of the population of interest, or a sample of that population (Pfaffenberger and Paterson, 1987, pp. 1415).

3. The framework of the survey must be designed. The survey must be designed to isolate the characteristic or characteristics of interest from other characteristics o

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, 1988, pp. 294195). The interviewer must be able to stimulate the respondent to answer. The preferred process is called probing, and includes the following actions on the part of the interviewer: 1. A brief assertion of understanding and interest at the beginning of the interview (Emory, 1988, p. 298). 2. An expectant pause (Emory, 1988, p. 298). 3. Repeating the question (Emory, 1988, p. 298). 4. Repeating the respondent's reply (Emory, 1988, p. 298). 5. A neutral question or comment (Emory, 1988, p. 298). Recording of responses should occur as the responses are made (Emory, 1988, p. 299). If time is critical, the interviewer should use some sort of shorthand during the initial recording of the responses, and write complete responses at a later time. If recording errors are made, the result is a response error discrepancies between recorded and actual responses (Emory, 1988, p. 301). The respondent's own words should be recorded (Zikmund, 1992, p. 466). Responses should never be summarized or paraphrased. Further, all probing actions on the part of the interviewer should be recorded. Interviews may be unstructured, semistructured, or structured (Isaac and Michael, 1991, p. 138). The unstructured approach p
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Approximate Word count = 2035
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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