Survey Research: Asking Questions Of Participants

Survey Research Is As It Suggests Asking Questions Of Participants An

Survey research is as it suggests, asking questions of participants and measuring the results. The survey types are many, but the evaluation of the survey tools is very similar. Download the World Health Survey of the World Health Organization’s Short Version: Individual Questionnaire: Rotation A of World Health Survey of the World Health Organization. What are your impressions of the survey items and the level of understanding needed to administer the survey? Pretend you are the surveyor.

What is your opinion of the survey in terms of understanding the questions, the types of questions, and the level of personal information shared? Pretend you are the respondent. What is the face validity of the survey? What would you change to improve the quality of data collected? Explain your reasons.

Paper For Above instruction

Survey research is a fundamental method in social sciences, health research, and many other fields because of its effectiveness in capturing large amounts of data efficiently. The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a comprehensive survey aiming to assess health status, behaviors, and social determinants among individuals across different regions. Examining this survey from both the perspective of the surveyor and respondent reveals insights into its design, clarity, and potential for yielding valid and reliable data.

Impressions from the Survey Items and Administration

As a hypothetical surveyor, I find that the WHO short version encapsulates a broad spectrum of health-related questions that address physical health, mental well-being, lifestyle choices, and access to healthcare. The questions appear structured and systematic, promoting ease of administration. However, the level of technical understanding required to administer the survey hinges on familiarity with the questionnaire's language, cultural context, and the nuances of translating items accurately, especially in multilingual settings. Training or prior experience in survey administration would be essential to ensure proper delivery and to handle participant queries effectively.

The survey items seem designed with clarity to minimize interviewer bias. Nonetheless, some questions may require clarification, especially those involving subjective assessments like mental health or social support, which could be interpreted differently across diverse populations. The streamlined question format generally facilitates smoother data collection but necessitates a well-trained interviewer to interpret and record responses correctly.

Respondent's Perspective: Understanding, Question Types, and Privacy

From the respondent's standpoint, the comprehensibility of the questions is crucial. The survey appears to employs mostly closed-ended questions with straightforward language, which should generally be easy to understand. Yet, complex concepts such as mental health status or social support might challenge some respondents, especially if they lack prior familiarity or are hesitant to share personal information.

The types of questions include factual, ordinal, and nominal formats, which are appropriate for capturing quantitative data. The personal nature of some questions—such as income, mental health, or substance use—raises concerns about privacy and disclosure comfort. Ensuring confidentiality is vital to foster honest and accurate responses, thus improving data quality.

Face Validity and Recommendations for Improvement

The face validity of the survey refers to whether the questionnaire appears effective in measuring what it intends at face value. Given that WHO's survey is designed rigorously, it likely scores high on face validity, as the questions directly relate to health status and determinants aligned with the survey’s objectives.

To enhance data quality, I would recommend several modifications. First, incorporating culturally sensitive phrasing or providing explanations for complex terms can improve understanding among diverse respondents. Second, including scaled response options with clear anchors could reduce ambiguity in subjective assessments. Third, adding assurances of confidentiality explicitly at the beginning can increase participants' comfort during disclosure of sensitive information. Finally, pilot testing with representative subgroups can identify ambiguous or problematic questions, enabling refinements that enhance reliability and validity.

In conclusion, the WHO short survey is a comprehensive tool with generally clear items suitable for assessing health outcomes. Its effectiveness depends heavily on proper administration, cultural considerations, and respondent comfort, all of which can be improved through targeted revisions and thorough interviewer training.

References

  • World Health Organization. (2010). WHO South-East Asia Region: World Health Survey. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
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