Mansur - In survey research, multiple sources to gather data such as online surveys, telephonic surveys, face-to-face surveys etc. are used. The most common modes of administration can be summarized as telephone, mail (post), online surveys, personal in-home surveys, personal mail or street intercept survey. The choice between administration modes is influenced by several factors, including costs, coverage of the target population, flexibility of asking questions,, respondents' willingness to participate and, response accuracy. Checklists are used to encourage or verify that a number of specific lines of inquiry, steps, or actions are being taken, or have been taken, by a researcher. These surface in a variety of forms throughout data collection and analysis and thereafter as part of either writing or review.

Hi Mansur,

That is an interesting question. Survey research by definition is "a collection of information/data from a sample of individuals through their responses to questions". So questionnaire is the main stay method of data collection in surveys. A questionnaire can be administered via various ways as highlighted by Dr Hussain. Depending on your research question, you may need to triangulate questionnaire data with other data such as direct measurement e.g. weight and height measurement to determine participants wight status (BMI), or waist circumference, blood samples etc.

So the key thing which determine the method choice is your research questions.

Cheers

Windi

Hi Mansur

In face to face surveys keen observation is a handy tool. Though it is subjective one but if done in non-partisan way, can be instrumental in vindicating the responses obtained through other means. Go ahead.

In depth face to face interviews, even one on one telephone interviews, are among the most important tools or methods for conducting qualitative research. They're labor intensive and seem to be displaced somewhat by online and electronic approaches. But nothing really compares to the chance to interview a human subject in depth for maximizing the validity of your research. Questions such as, "What do you mean?" or "Can you give me a specific example?" have real power.

Face to face survey remain above par tool despite the emergence of online methods of data collection