Descriptive or Survey Method
The term survey is used for the techniques of investigation by a direct
observation of a phenomenon or a systematic gathering of data from
population by applying personal contact and interviews when adequate
information about certain problem is not available in records, files and
other sources.
The survey is an important tool to gather evidences relating to
certain social problems. The term social survey indicates the study of
social phenomena through a survey of a small sampled population and
also to broad segments of population. It is concerned with the present
and attempts to determine the status of the phenomenon under
investigation.
Definitions
“A social survey is a process by which quantitative facts are collected
about the social aspects of a community composition and activities.” -
A. F. Well
“The survey is in briefly a method of analysis in scientific and orderly
form for defined purpose of given social situation of problem and
population.” -
S. Herman
Objects of Social Survey
(i) Direct and close contact of researcher to the phenomenon under
study.
(ii) To collect general information.
(iii) A basis for hypothesis.
(iv) To explain cause and effect relationship.
(v) To know opinion and attitudes of the people.
Purposes
(i) It provides necessary information which helps the administrator
for making decisions.
(ii) It provides necessary information and plan for improvement so it
is forward-looking.
(iii) It interprets, synthesizes and integrates data and points out their
implications.
(iv) It is more realistic because investigation is done in this method in
natural setting.
(v) It is the only method through which the researcher can obtain the
opinions, attitudes and suggestions for improvement.
(vi) It is useful in the development of research tools such as checklists,
questionnaires etc.
Types of Descrptive Method
Descriptive method is divided into four parts. they are
The Content Analysis
It deals with the nature utility and procedure of
content analysis. The important problems in this area are as follows;
(i) Developing and modifying curriculum.
(ii) Developing a standardized test in any subject.
(iii) Differentiating aspects of different writing styles.
Characteristics of Survey Method
(i) Social survey is confined to the study of specific current problems
of society eg poverty, unemployment etc.
(ii) A survey research is planned collection of data for prediction of
relations between the variables.
(iii) Survey is concerned with large or widely dispersed group of
peoples contrasted with the lab experiments.
(iv) Under this method observation, interviews, attitude scales,
projective techniques, small scale experiments etc. are used to
collect data.
(v) The facts collected here may form the basis of further social
researches.
Planning a Survey Method
The following are the steps which are involved in survey methods;
(i) Select a problem.
(ii) Preliminary or pilot study should be done.
(iii) General and Specific objectives of the study are to be framed.
(iv) It should be determined that for which of the variables,
identified in the problem whether; adequate techniques for data
collection are available, and if not then is it possible for the
researcher to design them.
(v) Population should be identified and representative sample
should be selected.
(vi) Data collection design should be prepared.
(vii) The data should be collected.
(viii) The data should be analyzed.
(ix) The report should be prepared which should have descriptive
past, comparative or evaluative past and findings.
Merits of Survey Method
(i) Direct and close contact between researcher and respondents.
(ii) Greate objectivity.
(iii) Testing the validity of theories.
(iv) Formulation and testing of hypothesis.
(v) Social surveys are based on actual observation.
(vi) It has universal application.
Limitations
(i) Survey method is costly, time consuming and wasteful in certain
cases where the objectives are limited.
(ii) The survey method is unsuitable if the numbers of persons to be
surveyed are very large or if they spread over a large
geographical area.
(iii) In this method personal bias may vitiate the result.
(iv) It lacks the flexibility.
(v) In this method, it is very difficult to verify the accuracy of the
data collection.
(vi) Only useful for current problems.
(vii) It does not permit more comprehensive and dynamic study of
the society but deals with the problems of immediate
importance only.
(viii) Under this method most of the surveys are conducted on sample
basis. If the sample is not carefully planned, inferences drawn
may be inaccurate and misleading.
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