Survey research is social science research that involves interacting with humans for data gathering on certain social issues of concern. Unlike in physical science research, where laboratory, research plots, materials and treatment of specimens in an experiment are conventional with ease of understanding to a knowledgeable reader, humanity's environment differs and the social behaviour varies, thereby necessitating the need for establishing the uniqueness of the social system as a study area. To accomplish this essentiality in survey research, many of the reviewed manuscripts and assessed theses and dissertations largely limit the description of their study area to geographic and demographic boundaries. To an extent, this is okay but not enough to establish the geographic and demographic descriptions as the study area. Giving a geographic description is like a physical science researcher just stating that an experiment was conducted 'in a laboratory' without reference to the materials, reagents and treatments in the experiment. What establishes a described geographic boundary as a study area is an in-depth provision of information about the existing issues of concern to research in the described geographic boundary. For instance, vivid description of the prevalence of certain diseases - be it human, animal or plant-related, or common behavioural practices in the social system. Doing this is similar to a physical science researcher listing the used materials, reagents and the number of treatments in an experiment. Just as this gives a clear picture of the appropriateness of the experiment, so does the provision of clear and in-depth information about the existing issues of concern in a geographical boundary justifies a particular geographic boundary as a study area. So, when embarking on survey research look out for social issues of concern to justify or establish your study area. hashtag#socialscieceresearchhints hashtag#surveyresearch hashtag#studyarea hashtag#researchissues
It depends on the parameters set by the researcher. WHAT information is being sought and for what purpose? What is the geographic delineation, e.g. national/regional/urban/rural etc? How has the population been defined? These are just a few preliminary questions to help with setting the study location parameters
In survey research, a study location can encompass various settings where data collection takes place. It may include physical locations such as research offices, community centers, schools, or respondents' homes. In the case of online surveys, the study location can be virtual, encompassing the respondents' own devices and the online platform used for data collection. The choice of study location can significantly impact response rates, data quality, and the overall feasibility of the research project. Factors to consider when selecting a study location include accessibility for both researchers and respondents, potential for privacy and confidentiality, and the overall suitability of the environment for conducting surveys.
Thank you @ShashwataSahu for your contributions to the issues of study location. It is noteworthy that study location could range from as small as research office to as large as the world. But the issue at hand is, what makes a location a study area? - is it by choice of a researcher?
The answer remains definitely not! An area becomes a study location by default of the research issue to be addressed. For instance, consideration of research into the effects of oil spillage on livelihood of community residents suggests that the affected area bcomes the study location by virtue of the obvious spillage of oil in the area. A researcher cannot by choice select an area without oil spillage for this type of a research. The only choice a researcher could have here is either to or not to conduct such a research. A similar example is the outbreak of a certain disease in a community or region. So, it's the emerging issues for research that make a location be the study area.
On another note, your submission that "The choice of study location can significantly impact response rates, data quality, and the overall feasibility of the research project. Factors to consider when selecting a study location include accessibility for both researchers and respondents, potential for privacy and confidentiality, and the overall suitability of the environment for conducting surveys" is not the case.
I strongly believe there is a mixed-up here. The higlighted factors, such as response rates, data quality, location accessibility for both researchers and respondents, potential for privacy and confidentiality, are actually needed to be consided to DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A STUDY and NOT to determine where a study is to be conducted. That is, even where there is an observation of issues for research, it may not be possible to conduct such a research where the highlited factors cannot be guaranteed.
Touching on "virtual location". I somehow (not completely) disagree that a location could be virtual. This is because no one lives in the virtual, but its just a platform is an avenue to reach a wider audience or respondents on certain research issue(s). That can't be outbreak of disease or oil spillage or natural disaster in the virtual. This can only take place in the real world (communities) of mankind.
But where I partly agree with location as being virtual is because of emergence digital communities of people with common interest. For example, ResearchGate platform is a community of researchers, and of course issues pertaining to them could be researched! Even at this, the study location is not just "a virtual community" but "community of ResearchGate membership". Authenticity of a research thus has much to with specific location with issue(s) to be addressed and the people there affected.
Thank you for the contributions. Highly committed to building and improving knowledge
And lest I forgot Fairuz Mullagee's submission, which I also appreciate,
The indication that It depends on the parameters set by the researcher. WHAT information is being sought and for what purpose? Is quite of value. However, a researcher is independent of research issue to be addressed, and as such cannot just determine parameters to set or the information to seek out of his own volition. It is the research issue to be addressed that will determine the parameters to be set, and the type of information to be sought by a researcher.
On "what is the geographic delineation is, e.g. national/regional/urban/rural etc? and How has the population been defined?". These are essential consideration for ensuring appropriate sampling procedure and/or sampling of the respondents. These has nothing to do with the selection of study location.
You may see my contribution on sampling techniques from this link. https://www.researchgate.net/post/Sampling_Techniques-for_respondents_or_study_location?isAnswerFieldFocused=true
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