Survey data collection

With the application of probability sampling in the 1930s, surveys became a standard tool for empirical research in social sciences, marketing, and official statistics.

[6] The survey, form, app or collection tool is on a mobile device such as a smart phone or a tablet.

[7] Apart from the high mobile phone penetration,[8][9] further advantages are quicker response times and the possibility to reach previously hard-to-reach target groups.

As they are not dependent on internet access and the answers can be sent when its convenient, they are a suitable mobile survey data collection channel for many situations that require fast, high volume responses.

[16] Online consumer panels are also used extensively for carrying out surveys but the quality is considered inferior because the panelists are regular contributors and tend to be fatigued.

[26][27] Telephone surveys use interviewers to encourage the sample persons to respond, which leads to higher response rates.

Depending on local call charge structure and coverage, this method can be cost efficient and may be appropriate for large national (or international) sampling frames using traditional phones or computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).

The field method tends to be longer - often several months - before the surveys are returned and statistical analysis can begin.

Visual presentation of survey questions make a difference in how respondents answer them; with four primary design elements: words (meaning), numbers (sequencing), symbols (e.g. arrow), and graphics (e.g. text boxes).

[16] In translated surveys, writing practice (e.g. Spanish words are lengthier and require more printing space) and text orientation (e.g. Arabic is read from right to left) must be considered in questionnaire visual design to minimize data missingness.

[3] Virtual-world interviews take place online in a space created for virtual interaction with other users or players, such as Second Life.

Both the respondent and interviewer choose avatars to represent themselves and interact by a chat feature or by real voice audio.