EBD 601 Ch. 8

structured item

an item on a questionnaire that requires the respondent to choose from among response options (by circling a letter, checking a list, or numbering preferences). also called open-ended item

survey

A survey is an instrument to collect data that describe one or more characteristics of a specific population.

questionnaire

A written collection of self-report questions to be answered by a selected group of research participants.

survey research

Survey research involves collecting data to test hypotheses or to answer questions about people’s opinions on some problem or issue.

cross-sectional survey

A survey in which data are collected from selected individuals in a single time period. Compare longitudinal survey.

unstructured item

An item on a questionnaire that gives the respondent complete freedom of response.

interview

An oral, in-person question-and-answer session between a researcher and an individual respondent; a purposeful interaction in which one person is trying to obtain information from the other.

longitudinal study

A survey in which data are collected at two or more times to measure changes or growth over time. Compare cross-sectional survey.