Survey research

Survey research a research method involving the use of questionnaires and/or statistical surveys to gather data about people and their thoughts and behaviours. This method was pioneered in the 1930s and 1940s by sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld. The initial use of the method was to examine the effects of the radio on political opinion formation of the United States. One of its early successes was the development of the theory of two-step flow of communication. The method was foundational for the inception of the Quantitative research tradition in sociology.

Social surveys

Gathering data	Collection methods · Census · Sampling for surveys · Random sampling · Questionnaire · Interview (Structured, Semi-structured and Unstructured)

Analyzing data	Categorical data · Contingency table · Level of measurement · Descriptive statistics · Exploratory data analysis · Multivariate statistics · Psychometrics · Statistical inference · Statistical models (Graphical · Log-linear · Structural)

Applications	Market research · Opinion poll

Major surveys	National Election Studies · Gallup poll · General Social Survey · International Social Survey · United Kingdom Census · United States Census · National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey · World Values Survey

Professional associations	International Statistical Institute · World Association for Public Opinion Research · American Association for Public Opinion Research · European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research

Category · Projects (Business · Politics · Psychology · Sociology · Statistics)

Survey research

See also

Further reading