Survey, Advantages and Disadvantages of Interview

Question:

Explain the method of survey, advantages and disadvantages of Interview.

Answer:

Every person has their likes or dislikes in choosing the means of transport, class in which they will travel, the brand they will prefer to travel in, etc. They adopt according to the purpose of their travel. If a person is in employment and has to go for official purpose then he will go through the mode which the company will prescribe. Some have view that going in particular mode and of particular brand and in defined class will increase their status symbol. Some have view that the mode should be chosen as per the convenience and as per the comfort ability.  Through this reflective report, I will analyse the response of each and every person with whom I am going to interact and will fill questionnaire accordingly. This report will also explain what kind of various factor prevail in the mind of customer while choosing the carrier, the method of administering the survey adopted, its merits and demerits and the changes if any required in the Questionnaire and the learning obtained from the whole survey.

METHOD OF SURVEY – ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

The survey has been conducted in the predefined questionnaire through the method of face to face administration. Having face to face interviews has many advantages over the survey conducted through telephone or e mails. 

Reasons for Selecting Face to Face – As the target population from whom the data has to be collected is from the family, friends or office colleagues, it is better to adopt for face to face interview as they are not located geographically in different areas. Secondly, in case any one of target population does not understand any question mentioned in the questionnaire, then it is opened to them to ask any clarification any time from the person taking data for survey.

Advantages of Face To Face Method – Following are the advantages that the face to face method has over the telephone and online method of administering survey:

1. It allows the respondent to ask any type of question or clarification regarding the questions mentioned in the questionnaire. Sometimes the respondent does not understand the question and its requirements. In such case, face to face method makes the respondent understand each and every question and answers in full.

2. It facilitates the respondent to give the details for each question in the full. Unlike in case of telephone or e mail where the respondents generally give answers to half of the questions.

3. It provides the platform for respondent as well as person taking the interview to ask any question other than the question mentioned in the questionnaire which helps in better data collection.

4. Some respondents who are old or middle aged do not know how to operate internet and emails. In that case this method plays very important factor over the online method.

5. Rate of answering the questions and completion of questionnaire is high in this method as compared to telephone or online method.

6. It facilitates the visual aid which helps in judging the correct reaction of the respondent for the questions asked. 

Disadvantages of Face To Face Method  – Following are the major disadvantages of this method:

1. It is expensive in nature than telephone, online or other methods as it includes the cost of travelling, cost of printing and stationary, etc.  

2. Being expensive in nature, it limits the size of the target population and there coverage. The method will apply in case of convenience sampling method or where the respondents are located in the nearby areas. 

3. The reliability of data collection may be questioned. As the data has been collected from the friends, family members and office colleagues, the chances of having personal bias is high. It turns into less reliable and correct answers. 

4. This method does not give platform to ask questions relating to sensitive matters from the respondent like sexual matters. This is open in online method. 

5. There is no way of monitoring the work of the interviewer by the supervisor. 

ADMINSITRATION PROCEDURE

Yes, the administration procedure had been a great success and has come out with new facts, figures and observations. By having face to face method of administering the survey, the respondents have very well participated in each and every question and has discussed in detail. They are not at all confused in any way rather they have very enthusiastically given answers to every question. On an average, each respondent have taken twenty to thirty minutes on average for completion of the survey. Out of ten respondents, four have narrated their personal short stories and instances that have happened on their travel from one place to another place. One respondent was very conservative and have answered the entire question in short but as per his non verbal communication and reaction, it has been observed that he is feeling good on participating the survey. No question has been skipped and missed for some questions there is multiple answers from the same respondent. For instance, for question number 5 asking – And who were you travelling with? Two respondents have opted for all the five options available, for question number 6 asking – What was the primary purpose of your most recent trip? Three respondents have opted for three options, etc. On proceeding to Question number 7 and 8 which asks for level of experience with the flight chosen, each respondent has very curiously explained each service in detail in contrast with the other flights. Eight respondents have mentioned in question number 9 that the airways so chosen has high level of importance in terms of status symbol and safety record. On proceeding to question number 11 part (a) and part (b), each respondent have shared their experiences and some experiences are hilarious and some are astonishing but was a good part of the survey which has indulge the respondent and me in great discussion full of facts, figures and numbers.    

Though the administration procedure was very well and has been impressive but it requires some changes. The supervisor shall be appointed over the interviewer who can monitor his / her work and shall rectify the mistakes if necessary. Through this, the question of having biasness in the data so collected will not arise. Secondly, data should be collected from unknown persons also. It’s because the method of convenience sampling facilitates non representation of the whole population by the target population so selected. The method of random sampling shall be used. Thirdly, the process of having the face to face questionnaire filled through an interview shall be adopted in case of sample size is short and the target population is in nearby areas. 

For target population located geographically in different areas, method of telephone or online shall be used.  

 PROPOSED CHANGES IN QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Personal Information should be asked at first in the questionnaire relating to any topic. In the given questionnaire the personal information has been mentioned in the last in Section B. It should be come at first as Section A.

2. In question number 8 four aspects have not been mentioned – Status symbol, reputation, value for money and safety record. 

3. Covering letter shall be attached with the questionnaire as the survey will now cover large number of respondents who may or may not be geographically located in different areas. 

4. The questionnaire shall include the section of “Other Comments / Remarks” at the end. It will facilitate the respondents to mention which those things not mentioned in the questionnaire but related to the aim of survey. 

5. The questionnaire shall consist some question relating to sensitive matters.  

REFLECTION – KEY LESSON LEARNED

The aim of the survey has been very well achieved. I have learnt many lessons from the administration process. These are listed below:

 The questionnaire should be very short of 2-3 pages and should not be very lengthy for 20-25 pages.

 Method of sampling shall be adopted according to the requirements of the survey.

 More and more choices shall be given to the respondents. It is because it makes the respondents to give quick and appropriate answer.

 In the whole survey words like Not Applicable, Don’t Know shall be included. It is because some respondents get frustrated and irritated to answer the entire question and in that case these options plays vital role in getting the survey done.  

 It has made me understand how to talk with the respondents, how to ask questions from them keeping in consideration their status of mind and willingness to participate in the process of survey. 

 I have learnt the situations as to where the different methods of survey shall be applied like face to face method, telephone or online.

 The main area that I have learnt is ordering of questions to be asked in the questionnaire. The questions shall be placed at right place which will attract the attention of the respondent.

 I also learnt that knowledge of every kind is very necessary and has been able to identify my strengths and weaknesses. 

To conclude the report, the survey has listed out many guidelines and process that every surveyor shall adopt before proceeding to conduct any survey and drafting of the questionnaire. Face to face method has been emphasized over the telephone and online. 

REFERENCES

1. Phellas C, Bloch A and Seale C, 2011, “Structured Methods : Interviews, Questionnaires and Observation”, Retrieved from https://www.sagepub.in/upm-data/47370_Seale_Chapter_11.pdf    accessed on 07-06-2016.

2. “Tips of Survey Administration” retrieved from https://und.edu/research/institutional-research/_files/docs/surveys/survey-tips.pdf    accessed on 07-06-2016.

3. Minister of Industry, 2010, “Survey Methods and Practices Canada” Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-587-x/12-587-x2003001-eng.pdf   accessed on 08-06-2016.

4. Farrokhi F, 2012, “Rethinking Convenience Sampling : Defining Quality Criteria” Retrieved from  http://www.academypublication.com/issues/past/tpls/vol02/04/20.pdf     accessed on 08-06-2016.

5.  Taylor T, 2012, “Reflective Report” Retrieved from http://www.skills-hive.com/profileUploads/229/ML120%20Reflective%20Report%20FINAL.pdf    accessed on 08-06-2016.

6. Watton P, Collings J and Moon J, 2001, “Reflective Writing” Retrieved from http://www.exeter.ac.uk/fch/work-experience/reflective-writing-guidance.pdf     accessed on 07-06-2016.