Survey methodology

Survey methodology studies those areas of data collection that look for ways to collect survey data of the highest possible quality while minimizing expenses and the use of resources.

Surveys represent one of the main components of social methodology. In this sense, the Internet is gaining importance as a research tool. The majority of survey methodology principles also apply to web surveys, although some particularities exist.

The use of web surveys in research has numerous advantages for researchers as well as respondents. Methodological advantages are especially:

  • The speed of data collection;
  • Computer-supported data collection that helps to minimize errors when entering data into the database, response control, dynamic questionnaire adaptation (skips, rotation, etc.), multimedia, surpassing geographical barriers, etc.

Despite the numerous methodological advantages of web surveys, it is important to keep in mind that there are certain drawbacks, especially concerning errors (non-coverage, sampling, non-response and measurement errors). Most of these errors can still appear in all forms of data collection, not only web surveys.

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