Surveys

Surveys consist of a series of questions which may asked either in an interview or by questionnaire. It involves the obtaining of information directly from participants themselves. Generally speaking there are two main forms of surveys.

  1. Cross-sectional surveys. These surveys gather data at a single point in time.
  2. Longitudinal surveys. These surveys gather data periodically over a longer period of time to enable the study of changes over time.

There are many different forms of questionnaires and surveys that can be conducted.

  • Telephone Questionnaires. These are surveys conducted by an interviewer over the telephone.
  • In-person Interviews. These are interviews conducted in a face-to-face fashion.
  • Mail Surveys. These surveys are questionnaires that are sent to recipients to be filled out on paper and then returned to collectors.
  • Computer Directed Interviews. These surveys allow participants to enter data directly on to a computer or database.
  • Email surveys. Questionnaires that are sent via email to potential participants.
  • Internet/Intranet surveys. These are questionnaires published on-line and can be accessed via a web address.

It is always important to consider how each of these methods will be deployed, and also who will be conducting the surveys. For example if a telephone based survey method is used in research, it may be important for the telephone operator/interviewer to also be Māori.

(See Fiona Cram Video on Maori and quantitative research)

Examples:

Barnes, Helen & McPherson, Mervyl (2003) 'Maori Smoker and Whanau Response to “It’s about Whanau” television Commercials', Whariki Research Group, SHORE Research Centre, Auckland.

Wilkins, Chris, Casswell, Sally, Barnes, Helen Moewaka, Pledger, Megan (2003) ‘A Pilot Study of a computer-assisted cell-phone interview (CACI) methodology to survey respondents in households without telephones
about alcohol use’ in Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol 22, June 2003.

Pihama, Leonie (2005) 'An Evaluation of Mahi Ora: Commissioned by Te Wananga o Aotearoa', Unpublished Report.

Cooper, G., Arago-Kemp, V., Wylie, C., & Hodgen, E. (2004). ‘Te Rerenga a te Pïrere: A longitudinal study of Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Mäori students’. Phase 1 report. Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.