Research Methods in Social Relations-Survey Research Designs

Abstract

The strength of survey research lies in answering questions of fact and in assessing the distributions of the characteristics of populations. In uses of this kind, issues of internal validity are not raised, and hence the pre-experimental research designs that are typically used do not cause problems. There are no causal inferences to be made. Because survey designs lend themselves easily to extensive data collection over large geographical areas, they typically obtain data that are more externally valid than data gathered in laboratory settings. Sampling procedures to enhance external validity are more easily implemented in survey research than in experimental research. Likewise, many naturally occurring phenomena can be observed in survey research, whereas those same phenomena might not be amenable to experimental simulation and manipulation.