Going online — experiences with a web survey

Abstract

This case study details the process and lessons learnt from converting a compulsory comprehensive organisational survey from email to online format. The conversion was undertaken to improve data quality and reduce respondent burden. Key considerations in developing the online survey were ease of use, security and access. The new intuitive system allowed simultaneous access for multiple users, and incorporated dynamic indicators of progress and validation of numeric data. Reactions to the survey were mainly positive -about 75% of user feedback was positive or neutral, they reported the survey was "user friendly" and preferred the online format. Negative comments focused predominantly on the feature of expanding and collapsing questions which these respondents found difficult to manage. Administration of the survey was streamlined, with considerable reduction in time spent in checking and correcting responses for both respondents and data collectors. Although substantial improvements were recognised and appreciated by many users, it is important to acknowledge that users adapt to new technology at different speeds, and adequate support needs to be implemented for all THIS CASE STUDY outlines the conversion of a comprehensive annual survey from Microsoft Word (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash, USA) format submitted by email, to a web-based format with online submission. A survey is an effective way to obtain standardised information about the changing activities of diverse health care organisations, but the format of the survey influences data quality as well as efficiency of data collection, analysis and reporting. Inefficient survey methods are associated with poorer quality information, excessive data cleansing activities, and considerable waste of time and effort for staff members responding to, or administering, analysing and reporting on the results.

Validation of the Professional Practice Environment Scale in Australian General Practice

“…Following this, the survey was administered to general practice nurses who were recipients of a postgraduate scholarship, using a secure online survey, as part of a larger investigation evaluating the scholarship program. An online survey was used for its ease of dissemination, reduced costs, protection of anonymity, and capacity to administer across a large geographical area within a short time frame (Kalucy, Hordacre, & Patteron, 2008).…”

Is it time to abandon paper? The use of emails and the Internet for health services research – a cost‐effectiveness and qualitative study

“…The potential advantages of Internet questionnaires include reduced costs, the immediacy of results available to both researchers and participants, and the ability to use automatic prompts to help reduce the number of unanswered questions or implausible answers [1–5]. Important disadvantages include the technical and design challenges of creating a modern user‐friendly interface and managing web‐based datasets [3,6–11].…”