Often In Engaging Survey Research, We Need To Control For Fa

Often In Engaging In Survey Research We Need Tocontrolfor Factors Th

Often, in engaging in survey research, we need to control for factors that influence the dependent variable (DV) but are not the primary focus of the research hypotheses. These factors, known as control variables, are typically gathered through background questions in surveys. Designing an effective Background Questions section involves using polite, precise, and useful questions to collect this data, ensuring responses are easy for respondents to provide and for researchers to analyze. The questions should be formatted with response options that can be scored numerically for analysis purposes.

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The formulation of a comprehensive background questions section is crucial in survey research to account for extraneous variables that could influence the observed relationships in the study. Properly designed background questions provide valuable demographic and contextual information, enabling researchers to control for potential confounders in the analysis stage. This section must be constructed thoughtfully to be respondent-friendly, utilizing clear language and suitable response formats such as checkboxes, multiple-choice options with intervals, or fill-in-the-blank responses, all designed to facilitate accurate and easy data collection.

Below is an example of a Background Questions section tailored to the specified variables: age, gender, income, years studied abroad, years lived in the USA, and years in current employment. Each question is followed by a description of how responses are scored or coded for analysis.

Background Questions

1. What is your age?

Response options:

  • Under 20 years
  • 20-29 years
  • 30-39 years
  • 40-49 years
  • 50-59 years
  • 60 years or older

Scoring: Assign numerical codes starting from 1 for "Under 20" up to 6 for "60 or older." For example, 1 =

2. What is your gender?

Response options:

  • Male
  • Female
  • Non-binary/Third gender
  • Prefer not to say

Scoring: Male=1, Female=2, Non-binary=3, Prefer not to say=4.

3. What is your total annual household income before taxes?

Response options:

  • $0 - $20,000
  • $20,001 - $40,000
  • $40,001 - $60,000
  • $60,001 - $80,000
  • $80,001 - $100,000
  • Over $100,000

Scoring: Assign codes from 1 to 6, sequentially, for each income bracket.

4. How many years have you studied abroad?

Response options:

  • 0 years
  • 1-2 years
  • 3-4 years
  • 5-6 years
  • 7 or more years

Scoring: 0=0, 1=1-2, 2=3-4, 3=5-6, 4=7+.

5. How many years have you lived in the United States?

Response options:

  • 0-2 years
  • 3-5 years
  • 6-10 years
  • 11-20 years
  • More than 20 years

Scoring: 1=0-2, 2=3-5, 3=6-10, 4=11-20, 5=>20.

6. How many years have you been employed in your current job?

Response options:

  • Less than 1 year
  • 1-2 years
  • 3-5 years
  • 6-10 years
  • More than 10 years

Scoring: 1=less than 1, 2=1-2, 3=3-5, 4=6-10, 5=>10.

Conclusion

The above set of background questions ensures that relevant demographic and contextual data are collected in a respondent-friendly manner. The questions employ interval-based responses where appropriate, making it easier to convert responses into numerical variables suitable for statistical control. Proper scoring of responses allows for straightforward incorporation into data analysis, enabling the researcher to account for these control variables when examining relationships among primary variables of interest. Designing these questions with clarity and politeness aligns with best practices, encouraging accurate and complete responses.

References

  • Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Heiman, G. W. (2014). Basic Statistics for the Health Sciences. Cengage Learning.
  • Tourangeau, R., Rips, L. J., & Rasinski, K. (2000). The Psychology of Survey Response. Cambridge University Press.
  • Groves, R. M., et al. (2009). Survey Methodology. Wiley.
  • Fowler, F. J. (2014). Survey Research Methods. Sage Publications.
  • Bradburn, N. M., Rips, L. J., & Shevell, S. K. (1987). Answering autobiographical questions: The impact of memory and inference on questionnaires. Science, 236(4798), 157-161.
  • Converse, J. M., & Presser, S. (1986). Survey questions: Handcrafting the standardized questionnaire. Sage.
  • Sudman, S., & Bradburn, N. M. (1982). Asking questions. Jossey-Bass.
  • Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press.
  • Schuman, H., & Presser, S. (1996). Questionmires in Social Research. Sage Publications.

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