Most people are familiar with three uses of survey techniques: the measurement of public opinion for newspaper and magazine articles, the measurement of political perceptions and opinions to help political candidates in elections, and market research designed to understand consumer preferences and interests (Fowler 1988). Survey modeling methods allow researchers to gather information and make informed decisions. A deeper qualitative analysis presents several other decision criteria used to formulate the question, including how the survey delivery methods impact the responder, and how the surveyor guides the survey. Inconsistency can exist with the target audience, the number of sensitive questions in the survey, survey length, and decision criteria.Designing a good survey involves selecting the questions needed to meet and design research objectives (Fowler 1988). Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods are applied in generating and analyzing surveys. Quantitative methods provide the best evidence of statistical significance of decisions made through probability sampling, standardized measurements, and targeted surveys for special purposes (Fowler 1988). Qualitative methods are exploratory and offer an introspective view into how decisions are made through open questioning when the outcomes are not predictable (Mack et al. 2005). Focus groups and feedback surveys anticipating open comments are qualitative in nature, and reveal the behavioral aspects social survey researchers are seeking. Applying both methods is considered mixed survey modeling, and how the respondent chooses responds is the unknown variable.At the most basic level, a survey consists of a series of questions and associated responses. The end goal is data collection by asking people questions and producing
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