survey | Definition

A survey is a research method for collecting standardized information from a sample of people through questionnaires or interviews.

What Is a Survey?

A survey is a structured way to collect data about people’s opinions, behaviors, knowledge, or experiences. In social science research, surveys help researchers gather information from a group of participants, called a sample, representing a larger population. This method allows researchers to make generalizations about groups of people based on their responses.

Surveys can be conducted in many formats. They might be paper-based, online, over the phone, or in person. Regardless of the format, surveys usually include questions that are the same for every participant. These questions can be closed-ended (like yes/no or multiple choice) or open-ended (where people answer in their own words).

Surveys are widely used across social science fields. Sociologists might use surveys to learn about social attitudes. Psychologists might study mental health symptoms. Political scientists often use them to explore public opinion. Educators use surveys to understand student experiences. The method is flexible, cost-effective, and can provide powerful insights into how people think and act.

Why Researchers Use Surveys

To Gather Data Efficiently

Surveys can collect large amounts of data in a relatively short time. With the help of technology, online survey platforms can reach hundreds or even thousands of people at once. This makes surveys a popular choice when researchers need data quickly and at scale.

To Measure a Wide Range of Topics

Researchers can use surveys to measure many different kinds of variables. These include:

  • Attitudes (e.g., opinions about government policies)
  • Behaviors (e.g., how often people exercise)
  • Demographics (e.g., age, income, education level)
  • Experiences (e.g., how satisfied students are with their school)

Because surveys can include many questions, they are useful when researchers want to examine multiple factors at once.

To Make Generalizations

One of the strengths of survey research is the ability to generalize findings to a larger population. This is possible when the sample is carefully chosen to reflect the broader group the researcher is interested in. If done well, a survey can reveal trends and patterns that go beyond the people who took it.

To Support Statistical Analysis

Surveys provide data that can be easily turned into numbers. This makes it possible to analyze the results using statistics. Researchers can test hypotheses, look for relationships between variables, or track changes over time.

For example, a criminologist might use survey data to examine the relationship between neighborhood safety and trust in the police.

Types of Surveys

Cross-Sectional Surveys

A cross-sectional survey collects data at one point in time. It gives a snapshot of people’s opinions or behaviors in the moment. For example, a political scientist might conduct a survey before an election to find out how people plan to vote.

Longitudinal Surveys

A longitudinal survey collects data from the same participants over a longer period. This helps researchers track changes over time. For example, an education researcher might survey students at the start and end of the school year to measure growth in reading skills.

Descriptive Surveys

These surveys aim to describe characteristics of a group. For example, a survey might report how many people in a city own a car, how many work from home, or how many trust public schools.

Analytical Surveys

Analytical surveys go further by exploring relationships between variables. A survey might not only ask about car ownership, but also examine how it relates to job location or income level.

How to Design a Survey

Step 1: Define the Research Question

Every good survey starts with a clear goal. What do you want to learn? A well-defined question helps you decide what information you need and how to get it.

For example:

  • “What are college students’ views on online learning?”
  • “Does neighborhood violence affect feelings of safety at home?”

Step 2: Choose the Population and Sample

The population is the larger group you want to learn about, like all high school students in a city. The sample is the smaller group you actually survey. A good sample should represent the population as closely as possible.

Researchers use different sampling methods:

  • Random sampling gives everyone an equal chance of being chosen.
  • Stratified sampling divides the population into groups (like age or gender) and selects from each group.
  • Convenience sampling uses participants who are easy to reach, though this method may not be representative.

Step 3: Develop the Survey Questions

Survey questions should be clear, unbiased, and easy to understand. They should relate directly to your research question.

There are two main types of questions:

  • Closed-ended: These have fixed response options, like yes/no, multiple choice, or Likert scales (e.g., strongly agree to strongly disagree).
  • Open-ended: These let people answer in their own words.

Examples:

  • Closed-ended: “How often do you exercise each week?” (Never, 1–2 times, 3–4 times, 5 or more times)
  • Open-ended: “What do you think are the biggest challenges in your neighborhood?”

Avoid leading questions, double-barreled questions (asking two things at once), and overly complex wording.

Step 4: Pilot the Survey

Before launching your survey, test it with a small group. This helps catch problems like confusing questions, technical issues, or missing response options. The pilot also gives feedback on how long the survey takes to complete.

Step 5: Distribute the Survey

Choose a method to reach your sample:

  • Online (e.g., email, social media, survey platforms)
  • In-person (e.g., interviews, paper forms)
  • Phone calls
  • Mail

Each method has its pros and cons. Online surveys are fast and low-cost, but may miss people without internet access. Phone and in-person methods offer more control but can be expensive and time-consuming.

Step 6: Collect and Organize the Data

Once responses come in, you need to check for errors, incomplete answers, or duplicate entries. Clean data is essential before analysis.

You can organize the data in spreadsheets or use statistical software to code and analyze responses.

Step 7: Analyze and Interpret the Results

Use appropriate statistical tools to analyze the data. You might look at frequencies, averages, or relationships between variables. Interpret the results in relation to your original question.

For example, if your survey asked about satisfaction with local parks, you might report:

  • 65% of residents are satisfied
  • Satisfaction is higher in neighborhoods with newer facilities
  • Younger residents report slightly lower satisfaction than older ones

Advantages of Surveys

Cost-Effective

Surveys, especially online ones, are relatively inexpensive compared to other methods like experiments or long-term fieldwork.

Scalable

Surveys can reach hundreds or thousands of people quickly, making them ideal for large studies.

Standardized

Everyone answers the same questions, which allows for consistent comparison across groups or time periods.

Versatile

Surveys can be used in many fields and can explore almost any topic that can be measured with questions.

Easy to Analyze

Survey data can be turned into numbers, allowing for statistical analysis and easy visualization in charts or graphs.

Limitations of Surveys

Self-Report Bias

People may not always give honest answers. They might try to look good, forget details, or guess what the researcher wants to hear.

Low Response Rates

Many people ignore surveys, especially online. Low response rates can make results less reliable or less representative.

Question Design Challenges

Poorly worded questions can confuse people or lead to biased results. Even small wording choices can affect how people respond.

Limited Depth

Surveys usually focus on surface-level data. Open-ended questions offer more detail but are harder to analyze. Surveys are not ideal for exploring deep personal experiences or complex issues without follow-up.

Sample Limitations

If the sample is not representative, the results may not apply to the larger population. This is especially true for convenience samples or small sample sizes.

Examples from Social Science Fields

Sociology

A sociologist might survey people about their attitudes toward immigration, tracking how opinions vary by age, education, and political beliefs.

Psychology

A psychologist might use a survey to measure symptoms of anxiety among teenagers, asking how often they experience certain feelings or behaviors.

Political Science

Political scientists often use surveys to study voter behavior, such as which issues matter most to people during an election.

Education

An education researcher could survey teachers to learn about their job satisfaction, classroom resources, or professional development needs.

Criminology

A criminologist might survey victims of crime to understand their experiences with the justice system and how safe they feel afterward.

Comparison to Other Methods

Surveys vs. Interviews

Surveys use standard questions and often involve written responses. Interviews can be more flexible, allowing for follow-up questions and deeper exploration. Interviews offer richer detail, while surveys are faster and easier to analyze.

Surveys vs. Experiments

Experiments test cause and effect by manipulating variables. Surveys do not manipulate anything—they observe and record what people say or report. Experiments are better for testing theories, while surveys are better for describing opinions or behaviors.

Surveys vs. Observations

Surveys gather self-reported data, while observations record actual behavior. Each has strengths and weaknesses. Observations may be more accurate for behavior, but surveys can explore attitudes, thoughts, and experiences.

Conclusion

Surveys are a powerful and flexible method in social science research. They allow researchers to gather large amounts of data from many people in a consistent and cost-effective way. With clear questions and a well-chosen sample, surveys can provide meaningful insights into social behavior, attitudes, and experiences.

Although surveys have limits—like potential bias and limited depth—they remain one of the most commonly used tools in fields like sociology, psychology, political science, education, and criminology. When designed carefully and analyzed thoughtfully, survey research helps us better understand the world around us.

Meta description: A survey is a research method for collecting standardized data from a group using questionnaires or interviews, often for broad population analysis.

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Last Modified: 03/29/2025

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