Designing And Conducting Survey Research: A Comprehensive Guide

By Richard A. Parker and Louis M. Rea

Book Overview

Designing & Conducting Survey Research, third edition Since it was first published in 1992, Designing and Conducting Survey Research has become the standard reference in the field for public and nonprofit managers who are responsible for conducting effective and meaningful survey research. This updated and expanded third edition builds on the first two volumes and contains additional statistical techniques, new reporting methods that meet the growing demands for accountability, and more user-friendly analysis methods. Designing and Conducting Survey Research is a complete, practical guide to conducting sample survey research. In a comprehensive manner, it explains all major components of survey research, including construction of the instrument, administration of the process, and analysis and reporting of results. Clear, concise, and accessible, this guide explains how to conduct a survey research project from start to finish. Further, it shows how this research method can be applied in such diverse fields as urban affairs, social science, and public administration. Designing and Conducting Survey Research is an excellent tool that will help both professionals and students understand and explain the validity of sample survey research. Praise for the Previous Edition of Designing & Conducting Survey Research "Clear, thorough, well-written, and eminently practical. Takes you step by step through all you need to know to conduct a survey or evaluate one and provides a basic understanding of the theoretical basis of sampling. The clarity of the book makes it a model for effective instruction and one that opens the road for those who must master the subject themselves." -Norton Long, professor emeritus of political science, University of Missouri, St. Louis "A basic tool for conducting survey research projects that any researcher can understand and use. Freed of confusing statistical theory yet comprehensive in approach, with step by step details." -John B. Sauvajot, public management consultant and former deputy chief administrative officer, San Diego County "Demystifies the arcane world of pollsters and survey research. Anyone who conducts surveys, hires survey consultants, reads reports, or makes policy based on survey data will benefit from this book." -Robert J. Waste, Survey Research Center, California State University, Chico

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 078797546X
• ISBN13: 9780787975463
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.5" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

This has become my right-hand book

This book has been a god-send for the work I'm doing in developing a survey research series for a local non-profit. What makes it so great is that it has a very strong overall and comprehensive approach to survey research, not surveys, not analyzing surveys but the WHOLE concept of survey research. Developing, administering questionnaires - overview of survey sample process - desigining effective questionnaires (types, layout, lenght, questions) - developing survey questions (closed, open, scaled, ranked...) - utilizing focus groups (pre-testing, piloting) Ensuring scientific accuracy - descriptive stats, central tendency and dispersion - theoretical basis of sampling (stratified, clustered) - confidence intervals - determining sample sizes - selecting representative samples (general, working and sample pops) Presenting, Analyzing Survey Results - cross-tabulated data analysis - testing difference between means - regression and correlation - preparing an effective final report You will get what you need out of this to start an effective survey research program or any activity. Surveys are becoming more frequent and 'easy' way of collecting data, but if you dont know why you're collecting it and what you're going to do with it - you're wasting your time with surveys. This book presents the concept of setting up a plan of action towards research which leads to better surveys and better questions, thus data. Couple this with "Improving Survey Questions" (Fowler Jr), "How to Measure Survey Reliability and Validity" (Litwin) and "How to Analyze Survey Data" (Fink) and you will have a nice library of resources. To start the overall program evaluation process, how about "Measuring Performance in Public and Nonprofit Organizations" (Poister)?

An informative and interesting read...

I purchased this text in order to brush up on some of the basic survey techniques for some work-related research projects. It has worked wonders for our sample selection and data collection processes.

clearly written

This text is easy to read and has helped me in constructing a mail-out survey.

Well written instructions for writing and intrepting surveys

This is an excellent reference book for writing survey questions, for ensuring population representation in your samples and for intrepting the responses. It even includes reference statistical tables for use in analysis of survey responses. All this in a small volume that is easily understood because it is so well written! It hits the nail right on the head. If you are conducting surveys or must present results after a survey is completed, this is a "must read" book.

Well written instructions for writing and interpting surveys

This is an excellent reference book for writing survey questions, for ensuring population representation in your samples and for interpting the responses. It even includes reference statistical tables for use in analysis of survey responses. All this in a small volume that is easily understood because it is so well written! It hits the nail right on the head. If you are conducting surveys or must present results after a survey is completed, this is a "must read" book.