Key Steps in a Sample Survey
Typically, a sample survey consists of the following steps:
1. Define the target population
In defining the target population the important terms should be carefully and unambiguously defined. The target population may be divided into various segments which may have differing characteristics. For example, all television owners may be three or four income brackets.
2. Select the sampling scheme and sample size
There are several sampling schemes: simple random sampling, cluster sampling, sequential sampling, stratified sampling, systematic sampling, and non-probability sampling.
3. Develop the Questionnaire
The questionnaire is the principal instrument for eliciting information from the sample of respondents. The effectiveness of the questionnaire as a device for eliciting the desired information depends on its length, the types of questions, and the wording of questions. Developing the questionnaire requires understanding of the product/ service and its usage, imagination, insights into human behavior, appreciation of subtle nuances, and familiarity with the tools of descriptive and inferential statistics to be used later for analysis. It also requires knowledge of psychological scaling techniques if the same are employed for obtaining information relating to attitudes, motivations, and psychological traits. Industry and trade market surveys, in comparison to customer survey, generally involve more technical and specialized questions.
4. Recruit and Train the Field Investigators
Recruiting and training of field investigators must be planned well since it can be time consuming. Great care must be taken in recruiting the right kind of investigators and imparting the proper kind of training to them.
5. Obtain Information as per the Questionnaire from the sample of Respondents
Respondents may be interviewed personally, telephonically, or by mail for obtaining information.
1. Define the target population
In defining the target population the important terms should be carefully and unambiguously defined. The target population may be divided into various segments which may have differing characteristics. For example, all television owners may be three or four income brackets.
2. Select the sampling scheme and sample size
There are several sampling schemes: simple random sampling, cluster sampling, sequential sampling, stratified sampling, systematic sampling, and non-probability sampling.
3. Develop the Questionnaire
The questionnaire is the principal instrument for eliciting information from the sample of respondents. The effectiveness of the questionnaire as a device for eliciting the desired information depends on its length, the types of questions, and the wording of questions. Developing the questionnaire requires understanding of the product/ service and its usage, imagination, insights into human behavior, appreciation of subtle nuances, and familiarity with the tools of descriptive and inferential statistics to be used later for analysis. It also requires knowledge of psychological scaling techniques if the same are employed for obtaining information relating to attitudes, motivations, and psychological traits. Industry and trade market surveys, in comparison to customer survey, generally involve more technical and specialized questions.
4. Recruit and Train the Field Investigators
Recruiting and training of field investigators must be planned well since it can be time consuming. Great care must be taken in recruiting the right kind of investigators and imparting the proper kind of training to them.
5. Obtain Information as per the Questionnaire from the sample of Respondents
Respondents may be interviewed personally, telephonically, or by mail for obtaining information.