Michael Rathburn
Week 4 QNT 501 – Individual Assignment
Dr. Louis Daily
January 22, 2009

In the following situations, decide whether you would use a personal interview, telephone survey, or self-administered questionnaire. Give your reasons.

a A survey of the residents of a new subdivision on why they happened to select that area in which to live. You also wish to secure some information about what they like and do not like about life in the subdivision.
For the new subdivision, I would recommend that a telephone survey is used because it is relatively cost efficient, the sampling pool is probably full of people that are at home during the same time in the day, and it would allow the residents to share their personal preferences about the subdivision.
Also, because there is not a standard set of desired answers, the telephone interview would be the most effective data collection method.
When compared to either personal interviews or mail self-administered surveys, the use of telephones brings a faster completion of a study, sometimes taking only a day or so for the fieldwork. When compared to personal interviewing, it is also likely that interviewer bias, especially bias caused by the physical appearance, body language, and actions of the interviewer, is reduced by using telephones.
Finally, behavioral norms work to the advantage of telephone interviewing. If someone is present, a ringing phone is usually answered, and it is the caller who decides the purpose, length, and termination of the call. b A poll of students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates who are running for president of the student government.
The College students in their preferences among three student government candidates could be best suited to a self administered survey through an email or web based survey. This is because all that it needed is what their preferences are between the candidates.
This poll is to see how the candidates are doing. An in person poll of students would take way too much time, and a phone survey would, as well. However, an online poll to gauge voter opinion would be quick and easy to implement.

Ease of use is not the only influence pushing the popularity of Web-based instruments.
Cost is a major factor. A Web survey is much less expensive than conventional survey research.

The computer-delivered survey has made it possible to use many of the suggestions for increasing participation. Once the computer-delivered survey is crafted, the cost of redelivery via computer is very low. Preliminary notification via e-mail is both more timely and less costly than notification for surveys done by phone or mail. The click of a mouse or a single keystroke returns a computer-delivered study.

c A survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies, scattered over the eastern United States, on their personnel management policies for warehouse personnel.
For the wholesale grocery companies, I would recommend that a telephone survey is used because it is relatively cost efficient and it would allow the stores to share their personal management policies.
Since the companies are far apart, we wouldn't want to do an in person survey. A telephone survey is a good compromise, since we can interact with them and tailor the questions to their initial responses.
The other advantage would be that a personal interview would allow you to get information that would help other stores in their management techniques.
Because these are businesses we can confidently assume that someone will be available to answer the phone and provide direction to the proper individual to complete the survey. There is also the problem of non-response from a potential participant due to personal choice which may be higher than normal for a telephone survey of this type.

d A survey of financial officers of the Fortune 500 corporations to learn their predictions for the economic outlook in their industries in the next year.
For Fortune 500 financial officers, a personal interview is also in order because their individual opinions may not be addressed in a telephone or questionnaire poll in such a way that they could share their insights on the market.
These are very important people, and we aren't going to survey very many people. In addition, they are very busy, so sending a person to conduct the survey face to face will lend more credence to the survey, and higher quality results.
This could be done at a conference or at the office location of prospective participants. Without sitting in front of these individuals there is a serious risk that attention will be deferred or other distractions may occur. Securing their time will greatly enhance participant responses. The number of participants makes this somewhat unwieldy but response quality should offset the added burden of the personal interview format.

e A study of applicant requirements, job tasks, and performance expectations as part of a job analysis of student work-study jobs on a college campus of 2,000 students, where 1,500 are involved in the work-study program.
A questionnaire for the work study students on a college campus is in order because it could be administered to them at their leisure through email or online.
This survey seems like there would be a lot of questions, and sent to lots and lots of people. Therefore, sending them a form to fill out and return would be the most efficient manner to complete this.
Because of the large number of participants the questionnaire reduces the burden on the interviewer. The inventive to the student is provided by making this a required part of their work-study program. This should both enhance response rates and hopefully response quality as well.
There will be a shorter turnaround time for the results as well. The only major drawback is the upfront cost and time to develop the survey via the web.