Exploring the Diverse Types of Surveys: Insights and Applications

In this section of examples of survey research, we are going to discuss seven different survey kinds based on the channels you can use. Each of these survey research examples consists of different channels of survey distribution and data collection. 

01. Online surveys 

Online surveys include a set of structured questions that respondents complete through the Internet. This is generally done by filling in a form. Online survey tools are becoming increasingly popular because it is an apt way to reach out to the participants, it is less time-consuming, and are also cost-effective as compared to traditional paper surveys. 

You can administer online surveys via email, sms, social media, or your company website. The internet makes it easy to reach a diverse audience and gather representative data. 

Pros of this type of survey: 

• Online surveys are easy to share and accessible. 
• Survey respondents can take surveys anywhere on their mobile devices. 
• You can trigger it to gather responses in real-time. 

Online survey tools allow you to design surveys with multiple types of survey questions to create interactive surveys. It also enables you to store gathered data in the database and use it for later evaluations by experts. 

Additionally, it enables you to use logic functionality to ensure that the questions are relevant to the respondent’s experience. Survey software also enables researchers to reward survey respondents for their participation in online surveys. 

02. Paper surveys 

In such survey methods, researchers use traditional paper and pencil methods to collect data. 

Many researchers believe paper surveys to be outdated methods of conducting surveys. However, they come in handy when used for field research. These surveys can be conducted in areas where computers, laptops, and smartphones aren’t available.  

However, these surveys are expensive and time-consuming. They also use up human resources and can be exhausting to conduct. 

Pros of this survey research example: 

• It allows you to gather data from people who are not well-versed in technology. 
• People who cannot access online surveys can share their feedback using paper surveys. 

03. Telephonic surveys 

As the name suggests, telephonic surveys such as Voxco’s CATI survey software are conducted over the telephone. Respondents are asked to answer questions that are relevant to the research topic. 

The researcher asks the questions over the phone or uses IVR to play recorded questions. Phone surveys, when conducted using robust technology like automated dialers, can speed up the research process and also enable you to scale the software based on the requirement. 

However, a lot of the success of a telephone survey depends on the number of people answering the phone and investing the time in answering each and every question. 

Pros of this example of survey research: 

• Phone surveys help you add a human touch and build relationships with the target audience. 
• CATI enables faster data collection and analysis with its cutting-edge telephone technologies. 
• Interviewers can effortlessly record answers without errors in a telephone survey. 

Read how Vox Opinion used Voxco IVR in its customer satisfaction program.

04. One-to-One interviews or In-person surveys 

The one-to-one interview method includes the researcher gathering information directly from the respondent. This is a qualitative research method. The questions framed and asked by the researcher depend upon their knowledge and experience. Relevant questions lead to deeper insights from the interview. Interviews last anywhere from around 30 minutes to a few hours. 

Pros of this type of survey: 

• This example of survey research is best suited when collecting data from respondents who have low literacy. 
• It allows you to dive deeper into respondents’ opinions and keep them engaged. 

With technological advancement, you can now conduct in-person interviews using mobile-offline survey software. Such software enables you to administer surveys on your mobile device in the absence of the Internet. 

You no longer have to carry papers around. Simply use the mobile-offline software to collect data, and once the device is connected to the internet, the data is stored and analyzed. 

05. Focus groups  

Focus groups have a small but diverse group of individuals who are given a sample product or a topic to discuss. This survey is monitored by a supervisor or a moderator who does not interfere with the group.  

Focus group surveys are carried out to measure the natural reaction and opinion of individuals over a given topic, where all of them actively present their views and opinions through agreeing, disagreeing, and even arguing while the moderator takes notes of the conversation.  

Pros of this survey research example: 

• This type of survey method lets you uncover respondents’ perceptions and attitudes. 
• It is a great way to conduct qualitative survey. 
• You can observe participants interact and form opinions which helps you also uncover drivers of customer behavior. 

06. Panel sampling  

You can also recruit survey respondents maintained by a research company where that provides you with a population who is signed up to take the survey. This way, you can get assured responses. You also have the liberty to filter responses or participants based on your business needs and gather your data to drive insights from it. 

Another side of the panel survey is the data quality which you will have to watch out for. As these individuals are frequently giving various surveys, some of them might rush in the answers and respond with misdirecting responses. Another bias happens when you are tapping into the same people for different surveys, which don’t give you representative answers.   

Pros of this type of survey: 

• Panel survey is suitable when you are in a hurry to conduct surveys.
• It also allows you to conduct long-term surveys, as you can survey the same respondents and track their responses over time. 

07. Mail-in surveys 

Mail-in surveys are those old-schooled ways of sending out surveys to people’s doorsteps. Although this practice was carried out even before the Internet age, is it really THAT old-fashioned? Well, not necessarily. Mail-in surveys are still carried out for respondents who are widespread geographically as they are sent to specific houses and addresses. Hence, they still feel personalized.  

Mail-in surveys are proven to have a lesser drop-out rate because respondents don’t struggle with less attention. The survey catches their eye, and most of them decide to attend it as it feels personalized.  

Pros of this survey type: 

• Mail surveys are old fashion and may be a favorable choice of survey channel for the older generation.