INTRODUCTION TO SURVEY METHODS AND QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN FOR POLICE FEDERATION RESEARCH OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 53024
• Author(s): B SWANTON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 65 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: PAPER PREPARED FOR THE POLICE FEDERATION RESEARCH OFFICERS COURSE HELD AT TUTA, CLYDE CAMERON COLLEGE, ALBURY, MARCH 1978

Annotation

SURVEY METHODS ARE EXPLAINED IN A PAPER DIRECTED TO OFFICERS CHARGED WITH PROVIDING AUSTRALIAN POLICE UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR MEMBERS.

Abstract

THE PAPER INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF THE BASICS OF SURVEY RESEARCH AND QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN, AND A BRIEF CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SURVEYS. THE USES OF SURVEYS IN GATHERING ATTITUDINAL AND FACTUAL INFORMATION FROM ASSOCIATION/UNION MEMBERS ARE OUTLINED; VARIOUS TYPES OF SURVEYS (INTERVIEW, TELEPHONE, MAIL, PANEL) ARE DESCRIBED; AND THE BASIC STEPS IN THE SURVEY PROCESS ARE EXPLAINED. PLANNING PROBLEMS ARE NOTED RELATIVE TO OBJECTIVES AND RESOURCES, COVERAGE, DATA COLLECTION, QUESTIONNAIRES, ERRORS, FIELDWORK, PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS, DOCUMENTS, ADMINISTRATION, AND PRETESTING. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SURVEY RESEARCH FOR POLICE UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARE POINTED OUT, THE DISADVANTAGES OUTNUMBERING, IF NOT NECESSARILY OUTWEIGHING, THE ADVANTAGES. SPECIAL FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BY RESEARCHERS WORKING WITH A FIXED UNIVERSE (E.G., MEMBERS OF POLICE UNIONS) ARE NOTED, SUCH AS THE DANGERS OF OVEREXPLOITING THE SURVEY POPULATION BY CONDUCTING TOO MANY SURVEYS, AND POLICE OFFICERS' GENERAL DISLIKE FOR PAPERWORK. THE DISCUSSION OF QUESTIONNAIRES DESIGN COVERS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEW SCHEDULES, TYPES OF QUESTIONS (ASCERTAINMENT OF FACTS, BELIEFS, OR FEELINGS), QUESTION CONSTRUCTION (FIXED-ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONS AND OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS), AND QUESTION ORDER. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT QUESTIONNAIRES SHOULD NEVER BE LONGER THAN NEED BE, THAT ALL DECLARATIONS OF CONFIDENTIALITY SHOULD BE RIGOROUSLY OBSERVED, AND THAT THE 'OFFICIAL' DESIGNATION SHOULD APPEAR CONSPICUOUSLY ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MATERIALS ON QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS, A LIST OF EXAMPLES OF GOOD SURVEY RESEARCH, ARTICLES ON QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION AND SAMPLING, AND A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN A MEMBERSHIP SURVEY BY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. (LKM)