K&L Chapter 25 – Survey Research

Question 1

Advantages of Survey Research

Answer 1

• Wide scope – much information from a small sample about a large population
• Economical (though more costly than lab experiments, generally)
• Accurate within sampling error

Question 2

Disadvantages of Survey Research

Answer 2

• Information is generally not “deep,” but can be
• Demanding of time, money and energy
• Sampling error – need safety checks in study
• Taking an interviewer out of the social context may influence their answers
• Requires research knowledge and sophistication

Question 3

File Drawer Effect

Answer 3

unpublished studies, generally those that show “no effect” are not accounted for – this may bias the meta-analysis optimistically