Survey Research Methods: (Applied Social Research Methods)

The Fifth Edition of Floyd J. Fowler Jr.’s bestselling Survey Research Methods presents the very latest methodological knowledge on surveys. Offering a sound basis for evaluating how each aspect of a survey can affect its precision, accuracy, and credibility, the book guides readers through each step of the survey research process. This fully updated edition addresses the growth of the Internet for data collection and the subsequent rapid expansion of online survey usage, the precipitous drop in response rates for telephone surveys, the continued improvement in techniques for pre-survey evaluation of questions, and the growing role of individual cell phones in addition to—and often instead of—household landlines. Throughout the book, the author puts the profound changes taking place in the survey research world today into perspective, helping researchers learn how to best use new and traditional options for collecting data.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Types of Error in Surveys 3. Sampling 4. Nonresponse: Implementing a Sample Design 5. Methods of Data Collection 6. Designing Questions to Be Good Measures 7. Evaluating Survey Questions and Instruments 8. Survey Interviewing 9. Preparing Survey Data for Analysis 10. Analyzing Survey Data 11. Ethical Issues in Survey Research 12. Providing Information about Survey Methods 13. Survey Error in Perspective

About the Author :
Floyd J. Fowler, Jr. is a graduate of Wesleyan University and received a PhD from the University of Michigan in 1966. A Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Survey Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston since 1971, he was Director of the Center for 14 years. Dr. Fowler is the author or co-author of four textbooks on survey methods, including Survey Research Methods, Improving Survey Questions, Standardized Survey Interviewing (with Mangione), and Survey Methodology (with Groves, Couper, Lepkowski, et. al), as well as numerous research papers and monographs. His recent work has focused on studies of question design and evaluation techniques and applying survey methods to studies of medical care.

Review :
"The text is clear, logical and straightforward. It provides extensive applied information, coupled with a good understanding of the rationale underlying survey construction." "[The book] is accessible enough for the masters students but theoretical enough for the doctoral students." "Even students with very little background in research methods can follow this text easily." "The greatest strength [of this book] is the articulation of the concept of total survey design and how the different components affect the credibility of the survey." Excellent book that covers topics that others do not, especially the non-response bias material. I have used the previous editions and find the textbook to be useful to my students. The book arrived too late for me to include it in the course. Will include next time I teach it. GREAT book for my students and me!! This book is a very useful addition to our list of supplementary texts. It is accessible and helpful for students who are new to research. A particularly useful text, part of the Applied Social Research Methods Series. Though a slim volume, at 171 pages, it is packed with helpful information for creating, administering and evaluating surveys, and as such, really useful for our postgraduate trainees who have to carry out a research project.
Especially useful is the information on how each aspect of a survey can affect the credibility of the outcomes.
Online surveys are included of course, though specific names of commonly available survey sites are not listed in the index e.g. Survey Monkey. The list of strengths and weaknesses for different types of survey should help researches evaluate their approaches with greater awareness. The chapter on ethical issues in survey research should be read by everyone carrying out surveys - it would save ethical committees a lot of time when considering applications for ethical approval. This is an excellent resource for assisting students and faculty to design high quality survey research projects! This text would be more suitable for a course on survey methods at the doctoral level. It will be on the supplimental reading list for HRD698 (MS level Research Design course), COT702 (PhD level methods course), and for my doctoral advisees. Concise information on developing surveys for DNP projects. A very useful book that several students have also used. Really useful in supporting undergraduate research projects In a concrete way, this book provides a good overview of the essentials of survey research. It offers good discussions on sampling, implementing a sample design, questionnaire construction, interviewing (and training interviewers), data analysis, and so on. Full of information on data collection which will be of use to students in the modules where they need to conduct their own small-scale study. A quite short introduction which covers most of the important issues in survey research. I liked the perspective on total survey error but missed illustrating examples. A well written book that is easy to understand for students as well as practitioners. It is compact, though, extensive enough for the more advanced researchers. The author discusses evaluation methods of the instrument as well, which I find highly valuable. Have used the book for 4 years and the graduate students do like it. Easy to read, short chapters that allow the professor to decide the topics requiring elaboration.
Thank you