1. Internet Surveys

2. Brief History E-mail was explored as a survey method in the late 80’s and early 90’s. E-mail was explored as a survey method in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The internet offered the possibility of multimedia surveys with more interactive features. The internet offered the possibility of multimedia surveys with more interactive features.

3. When should Online surveys be considered? The survey can be conducted with a convenience sample. The survey can be conducted with a convenience sample. The survey is being conducted in an organization that has a list of email addresses for the target population. The survey is being conducted in an organization that has a list of email addresses for the target population. The sample size is moderately large. The sample size is moderately large.

4. The survey contains a lot of open-ended questions. The survey contains a lot of open-ended questions. The survey contains questions that are of a sensitive nature. The survey contains questions that are of a sensitive nature.

5. Types of internet surveys Convenience sampling Convenience sampling Systematic sampling Systematic sampling Probability sampling Probability sampling Volunteer or prerecruited panel Volunteer or prerecruited panel

6. Benefits of Internet surveys “Routing” can save respondent's time. “Routing” can save respondent's time. Validation. Validation. Cost. Cost. Time. Time.

7. Types of questions https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/bsg survey2_0/main.aspx?SurveyID=504&c md=survey https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/bsg survey2_0/main.aspx?SurveyID=504&c md=survey https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/bsg survey2_0/main.aspx?SurveyID=504&c md=survey https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/bsg survey2_0/main.aspx?SurveyID=504&c md=survey

8. Limitations of internet surveys Not everyone has internet access or the skills to use it. Not everyone has internet access or the skills to use it. Invitation email might be perceived as junk mail. Invitation email might be perceived as junk mail. People outside the target group could complete the survey. People outside the target group could complete the survey. Require time and technological skill. Require time and technological skill.

9. Are they faster? They can be. They can be. If respondents are contacted via email, they are generally faster. If respondents are contacted via email, they are generally faster. If respondents are contacted via mail or telephone, the response times are marginal at best. If respondents are contacted via mail or telephone, the response times are marginal at best.

10. Are they cheaper? They can be. They can be. Save on mailing costs. Save on mailing costs. Higher programming costs. Higher programming costs. Cost of additional help-desk staff. Cost of additional help-desk staff. High fixed costs, Low variable costs. High fixed costs, Low variable costs.

11. Are they easier to conduct? Internet surveys are more technically involved. Internet surveys are more technically involved. Require more pretesting. Require more pretesting. Save on data entry. Save on data entry. Without prior experience, they are often more work. Without prior experience, they are often more work.

12. Tips for internet surveys List only a few questions per screen. List only a few questions per screen. Eliminate unnecessary questions. Eliminate unnecessary questions. Use graphics sparingly. Use graphics sparingly. Reduce response errors by restricting response choices. Reduce response errors by restricting response choices. Password protect your survey. Password protect your survey. Give respondents something in return. Give respondents something in return.

13. Tips continued… Automatically validate input. Automatically validate input. If a large number of respondents are contacted via e-mail, stagger the e-mail invitations. If a large number of respondents are contacted via e-mail, stagger the e-mail invitations.

14. Where can I create an internet survey? BSG BSG www.questionpro.com www.questionpro.com www.questionpro.com www.websurveyor.com www.websurveyor.com www.websurveyor.com www.web-online-surveys.com www.web-online-surveys.com www.web-online-surveys.com www.quask.com www.quask.com www.quask.com www.vanguardsw.com/vista/ www.vanguardsw.com/vista/ www.vanguardsw.com/vista/ www.zapsurvey.com www.zapsurvey.com www.zapsurvey.com

15. Sources Conducting Research Surveys vie E- mail and the Web. Conducting Research Surveys vie E- mail and the Web. Schonlau, Matthias, Ronald Fricker, and Marc Elliott. Conducting Research Surveys via E-mail and the Web. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2002. Internet Data Collection. Internet Data Collection. Best, Samuel, and Brian Krueger. Internet Data Collection. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 2004.