Annotated Bibliography
- Alexander , Elizabeth Twitchell . 1982 . Planning a Continuing Education Program: Finding Out What's Needed. University Park, Pennsylvania : Planning Studies in Continuing Education. . Planning Studies' Information Paper No. 2 is written for continuing education practitioners who are interested in determining the learning needs of their clienteles in a reliable manner. The editor recognizes that most practitioners do not have the time or resources to conduct formal standard-based needs assessments; thus, the paper focuses on less formal methodology. The paper explores the meaning and usefulness of the needs concept for continuing educators, the types and sources of needs information required for different kinds of continuing education programs, and informal ways of collecting and analyzing that information. An annotated bibliography and examples of three types of needs assessments are included. The paper may be obtained from Planning Studies at 237 Grange Building, University Park, PA 16802
- Babbie , Earl R. 1973 . Survey Research Methods. Belmont, California : Wadsworth Publishing Company. . Babbie's text focuses on the logic and skills of survey research. By discussing survey research exclusively, he is able to cover all aspects of survey research comprehensively, beginning with the scientific context of survey research and concluding with survey data analysis. He provides guidelines for both mail surveys and interviewing techniques. The book is aimed at anyone interested in conducting a survey or in using and/or evaluating survey results. It can be a useful resource for the beginning researcher who has little experience with surveys
- Dillman , Don A. 1978 . Mail and Telephone Surveys. The Total Design Method. New York : John Wiley and Sons. . Dillman's book describes the effective construction, use, and implementation of mail and telephone surveys. On the basis of experimentation with varying forms of survey design and implementation procedures, he has developed what he calls the “Total Design Method” (TDM). He claims that the use of TDM can radically increase survey response rates. TDM is based on theories of why people do or do not respond to questionnaires. It consists of two major parts: design and administration. Dillman clearly describes the issues involved in selecting a survey method, questionnaire construction and question design, and administrative requirements. The book is perhaps the most comprehensive and specific publication available conceming these issues. Topics which the boook does not address extensively include definition of survey objectives and research questions, sampling methodology, and data analysis
- Ferber , Rober , Sheatsley , Paul , Turner , Anthony and Waksberg , Joseph . 1980 . What is a Survey? Washington, D.C. : American Statistical Association. . The American Statistical Association (ASA) prepared this booklet primarily for consumers of survey research. The brochure uses nontechnical langauge and is understandable to persons without statistical background. Its aim is to promote a better understanding of survey operations and aspects that must be taken info account when evaluating the results of surveys. Single copies of the publication are available free from ASA, 806 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005
- Fuqua , Dale R. , Hartman , Bruce W. and Brown , Darine F. 1982 . “Survey Research in Higher Education.” . Research in Higher Education , 17 : 69 – 80 . The authors note that although survey methods are widely used by educators, textbooks on educational research provide very limited information on survey design and administration. Research concerning effective survey methodology exists but is not utilized well. The particular research described in this article examined the findings from previous studies on the effectiveness of various incentives to increase survey response rates. Data from these earlier studies were reanalyzed to resolve inconsistencies found regarding incentive effectiveness. Data reanalysis showed that follow-ups, money, and preliminary contacts were effective incentives. However, personalization, first class postage stamps, and questionnaire color did not increase response rates consistently
- Hoinville , Gerald and Jowell , Roger . 1978 . Survey Research Practice. London : Heinemann Educational Books. . Hoinville and Jowell's text covers all phases of survey research, from initial questionnaire construction to data preparation, analysis, and interpretation. The editors provide some useful caveats about survey research at the book's conclusion, and also caution researchers to respect and protect respondents' rights to privacy and confidentiality. A sample is included in an appendix
- Oppenheim , A. N. 1966 . Questionnaire Design and Attitude Measurement. New York : Basic Books, Inc. . Oppenheim's book provides step-by-step procedures for questionnaire and survey construction. Beginning with a discussion of the problems of survey and questionnaire design, the book covers question wording; checklists, rating scales, and inventories; attitude statements; attitude-scaling methods: projective techniques; and the quantification of questionnaire data. Since the book is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide to conducting a survey, it would need to be supplemented to be of most use to survey directors
- Payne , Stanley L. 1951 . The Art of Asking Questions. Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press. . Although this book is dated, the question-writing issues it discusses are still relevant. Payne points out the dangers inherent in question wording, and notes that asking questions must be viewed as an art rather than an exact science. He covers a Wide variety of considerations which enter into question writing, and concludes by summarizing his major points into an extensive checklist. Numerous examples are included in the text
- Rosenberg , Morris . 1968 . The Logic of Survey Analysis. New York : Basic Books, Inc. . Rosenberg's text links the general principles of survey analysis to concrete applications. The book is not designed to provide information about actual survey design; instead its aim is to explore the relationship between variables and to describe how basic and more complex data analysis can unearth these relationships. A variety of case studies are included to illustrate Rosenberg's methods of examining the data after they are collected
- Simon , Julian L. 1978 . “ Basic Research Methods in Social Science. ” . In The Art of Empirical Investigation. , Second edition New York : Random House. . Simon's book is a comprehensive text on continuing empirical research within a social science framework. The chapter on surveys is brief, but many other chapters within the book are relevant to persons conducting surveys. For example, one chapter, focusing on the steps in an empirical research study, is relevant regardless of the research methodology chosen. Sampling and data analysis considerations are discussed at length. Information which helps researchers determine sample size is particularly useful in answering the question, “How big a sample?”
- Stacey , Susan E. and Moyer , Kerry L. 1982 . A Guide to Survey Development. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Pennsylvania Department of Education. . This short manual on survey writing covers the steps involved in preparing and conducting a survey. It emphasizes actual questionnaire development rather than sampling methods, survey distribution and follow-up, and data analysis. The guide includes a sample cover letter and survey, a summary survey development checklist, and a self-evaluation form for survey development. The guide is available without charge from the Division of Research and Evaluation, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17108
- Williams , Bill . 1978 . A Sampler on Sampling. New York : John Wiley & Sons. . The editor's purpose in writing this book is to convey an understanding of the principles of statistical sampling to persons without strong mathematical background. Thus, concepts and procedures are presented primarily through numerical examples from which generalizations can be made. Although statistical background is not assumed, the editor notes that sampling principles are not simple to understand regardless of how they are presented. The one basic idea discussed throughout the book is sampling distributions: how they arise, how they are related to the confidence placed in the sample, and how they can be influenced by sample size, method of calculating estimates, and sampling procedures
- Zeisel , Hans . 1947 . Say It with Figures. New York : Harper & Brothers. . This book, although dated, offers a good basic discussion of classifying, summarizing, and interpreting data sets. The book does not assume any preliminary knowledge of quantitative methods, but rather is intended to provide beginning information on looking at research material, and of analyzing and presenting it