Survey Research: Design, Implementation, and Analysis for Social Work

Question 1

Which stage in survey research design focuses on identifying the specific questions that will be used to collect data?

Accepted Answer

Constructing the questionnaire

Answer

Define research objectives

Answer

Developing the sampling frame

Answer

Conducting pilot testing

Question 2

Which type of question format allows respondents to provide detailed and nuanced responses?

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions

Answer

Closed-ended questions

Answer

Likert scale questions

Answer

Semantic differential scale questions

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of applying a stratified sampling technique?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that different subgroups of the population are adequately represented in the sample

Answer

To reduce the size of the sample required

Answer

To increase the precision of the study's findings

Answer

To make the data collection process more cost-effective

Question 4

Which limitation is inherent to cross-sectional surveys?

Accepted Answer

Inability to establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

Potential for memory biases

Answer

Limited sample size

Answer

High financial cost

Question 5

What is the fundamental distinction between a population and a sample?

Accepted Answer

A population encompasses all members of a group under study, while a sample is a smaller subset selected to represent the population

Answer

A population consists of individuals with diverse characteristics, while a sample is a representative group chosen randomly

Answer

A population is a theoretical concept, while a sample is a real-world group

Answer

There is no meaningful difference between a population and a sample

Question 6

To ensure the effectiveness of a survey instrument, what crucial step should be taken during its design?

Accepted Answer

Clearly defining the research question

Answer

Determining the appropriate sample size

Answer

Selecting the mode of data collection

Answer

Analyzing the survey results

Question 7

What is the primary purpose of conducting a pilot test for a survey instrument?

Accepted Answer

To identify and address potential issues with the instrument

Answer

To gather preliminary data for the main study

Answer

To validate the research hypothesis

Answer

To determine the generalizability of the survey findings

Question 8

Which sampling method is most likely to yield a sample that accurately represents the population of interest?

Accepted Answer

Stratified sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Question 9

What is the fundamental distinction between closed-ended and open-ended questions in surveys?

Accepted Answer

Closed-ended questions provide predetermined answer choices, while open-ended questions allow respondents to answer in their own words.

Answer

Closed-ended questions are more reliable, while open-ended questions are more valid.

Answer

Closed-ended questions are better suited for quantitative research, while open-ended questions are better suited for qualitative research.

Answer

There is no difference between closed-ended and open-ended questions.

Question 10

In survey research, which statistical test is commonly used to determine the significance of differences between two groups?

Accepted Answer

T-test

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Answer

Correlation analysis

Question 11

In the survey research process, which step involves gathering data from participants?

Accepted Answer

Collecting the data

Answer

Designing the survey instrument

Answer

Analyzing the results

Answer

Writing the survey report

Question 12

The main purpose of a pilot study in survey research is to:

Accepted Answer

Test the survey instrument's validity and reliability

Answer

Estimate the required sample size for the main study

Answer

Identify potential biases in the survey design

Answer

Provide preliminary data for immediate hypothesis testing

Question 13

Among the provided sampling methods, which one is most likely to yield a representative sample?

Accepted Answer

Stratified random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Question 14

To compare the means of two independent groups in survey analysis, which statistical test is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 15

A stratified sampling method is primarily employed to:

Accepted Answer

Represent various subgroups within the population

Answer

Minimize potential sampling errors

Answer

Reduce the cost of conducting a survey

Answer

Enhance response rates

Question 16

Examples of scales commonly used in survey research include:

Accepted Answer

Ordinal, interval, and ratio scales

Answer

Nominal scale only

Answer

Nominal and ordinal scales only

Answer

Interval and ratio scales only

Question 17

The key distinction between cross-sectional and longitudinal survey designs is:

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional surveys collect data at a single point in time; longitudinal surveys collect data over multiple time points.

Answer

Cross-sectional surveys are more costly than longitudinal surveys.

Answer

Longitudinal surveys offer greater reliability than cross-sectional surveys.

Answer

Cross-sectional surveys are more straightforward to analyze than longitudinal surveys.

Question 18

The primary purpose of conducting a pilot test before launching a survey is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify and address potential issues with the survey instrument

Answer

Estimate the expected response rate

Answer

Collect preliminary data

Answer

Validate the survey's accuracy and validity

Question 19

A potential source of bias in survey research that may arise from participants not responding is:

Accepted Answer

Non-response bias

Answer

Sampling error

Answer

Selection bias

Answer

Measurement error

Question 20

The purpose of descriptive statistics in survey data analysis is to:

Accepted Answer

Summarize and describe prominent data characteristics

Answer

Test statistical hypotheses

Answer

Forecast potential outcomes

Answer

Identify correlations between variables

Question 21

The conventional structure of an effective survey report includes the following sections in order:

Accepted Answer

Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion

Answer

Results, Discussion, Methods, Introduction, Conclusion

Answer

Methods, Results, Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion

Answer

Discussion, Results, Methods, Introduction, Conclusion

Question 22

Which type of survey question is best suited for collecting demographic data such as age, gender, and education level?

Accepted Answer

Closed-ended questions with predetermined response options allow researchers to collect specific and quantifiable demographic information.

Answer

Open-ended questions allow participants to provide more detailed responses but can be challenging to analyze quantitatively.

Answer

Ranking questions ask participants to order items based on preference or importance, which may not be suitable for collecting demographic data.

Answer

Likert scale questions measure attitudes or opinions on a scale, which is not ideal for collecting factual demographic information.

Question 23

What is the primary purpose of sampling in survey research?

Accepted Answer

Sampling involves selecting a representative subset of the population to participate in the survey, allowing researchers to generalize findings to the entire population.

Answer

Sampling ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, which is not always feasible or necessary.

Answer

Sampling minimizes sampling error, which refers to the difference between the sample results and the true population values.

Question 24

Which statistical measure is commonly used to assess the reliability of a survey instrument?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's alpha is a widely used measure of internal consistency reliability, indicating the extent to which survey items measure the same underlying construct.

Answer

Standard deviation measures the spread or variability of data, which is not a direct indicator of reliability.

Answer

t-test is a statistical hypothesis test used to compare means between two groups, which is not directly related to instrument reliability.

Answer

Mean is a measure of central tendency, which does not provide information about instrument reliability.

Question 25

What is the fundamental difference between exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)?

Accepted Answer

EFA is an inductive approach that identifies underlying factors or dimensions in a set of variables, while CFA is a deductive approach that tests the fit of a predefined factor structure to the data.

Answer

CFA is generally more reliable than EFA, as it involves testing a specific hypothesis about the underlying factor structure.

Question 26

Which ethical concern is of paramount importance when conducting surveys in social work research?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality of participant data is a crucial ethical consideration, ensuring that personal information collected from participants is kept strictly confidential and secure.

Answer

Researcher bias can influence the design and interpretation of the survey, but it is not an ethical concern per se.

Answer

Sampling error is not an ethical concern but rather a limitation of survey research.

Answer

Participant safety is important, but it is typically addressed through informed consent and ensuring that the survey does not pose any physical or emotional risks.

Question 27

What is the primary purpose of conducting a pilot study in survey research?

Accepted Answer

A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted before the main survey to test the survey instrument, identify potential problems, and refine the research design.

Answer

A pilot study may collect preliminary data, but its primary purpose is not to inform the main study design.

Answer

A pilot study is not necessary for recruiting participants for the main study.

Question 28

Which type of survey design involves collecting data from the same participants at multiple time points?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal surveys collect data from the same sample over an extended period, allowing researchers to track changes over time and examine the impact of interventions or events.

Answer

Panel surveys are not typically conducted over multiple time points.

Answer

Cross-sectional surveys collect data from a sample at a single point in time.

Answer

Quota surveys ensure that the sample represents the population in terms of specific demographic characteristics.