Types of Social Survey

TYPES OF SOCIAL SURVEY 
  • Social survey may be classified according to its subject matter, technique of data collection, area covered, regularity etc.
  • General or specific survey
    • General survey – is conducted for collecting general information about any population or institution in a general way without any particular object or hypothesis at hand.
    • Ex: Census survey undertaken by the Government for supplying regular data on many socio-economic problems.
    • Specific survey – is conducted to study specific problems or some particular aspect of the community. Therefore, specific surveys are more pointed and only such information as is directly related to the particular purpose is collected.
    • Ex: Unemployment, Child-welfare, hygienic milk production, calf management etc.
  • Direct or Indirect survey
    • In case of direct surveys quantification is possible whereas in indirect surveys quantitative description is not possible.
    • Ex:
      • Direct survey – Demographic graphs
      • Indirect survey – Health and Nutrition status surveys
  • Census survey or Sample survey
    • In the census all units are covered separately and studied. Whereas, in sample survey, only some representative unit is studied.
    • Compared to census, sample survey consumes less time, energy and money but it is valid only if the sample is true representative of population.
  • Primary or Secondary survey
    • In the primary survey, the task of survey is taken up afresh and the surveyor himself sets the goals and collects relevant facts.
    • But if some facts are already available and there is no need to examine them afresh by a new survey then, the survey is called secondary survey.
    • Primary survey is far more reliable than the secondary survey.
  • Initial or Repetitive survey
    • If the survey is being made for the first time it is called initial survey and if it is being made second or third time it is called repetitive survey.
    • Ex:
      • Initial survey: Benchmark survey
      • Repetitive survey: Surveys to study the impact of a programme
  • Preliminary or Final survey
    • A preliminary survey is called as ‘pilot study’. It occupies the place of fore runner of the final survey. The purpose of this survey is to get the first hand knowledge of the universe to be surveyed.
    • It helps a person to get acquainted with the problem and the nature of the respondents, to prepare the schedule or questionnaire and organizing the survey on proper lines.
    • Final survey is conducted after the completion of pilot survey.
  • Official, Semi-official or Private Survey
    • Official surveys are conducted by the government through its various departments.
    • The surveys conducted by Quasi-government institutions like University, Corporations, Boards etc. are Semi-official surveys.
    • If non-government persons or agency conducts the survey, it is called a private survey.
  • Public or Confidential survey
    • Some surveys are not of highly personal in nature and accordingly no secrecy is maintained in the collection of data or publication of results. These surveys are therefore known as public surveys.
    • If the nature of the survey is such that information collected or source of information is not to be revealed to public, the survey is confidential.
  • Widespread or limited survey
    • In widespread survey, a very large or multiple purposes is involved, whereas in a limited survey only a small area and usually a specific aspect or problem is studied. The latter is comparatively more reliable.
  • Postal or Personal survey
    • When the data is collected through dispatch of Questionnaires by post, it is known as postal survey whereas, if the information is collected through direct interview of the respondents usually through schedule, it is known as personal survey.
  • Regular or Ad-hoc survey
    • Regular surveys are repeated after regular intervals without fail. Majority of such surveys are mainly economical in nature.
    • Ex: Livestock census, Nutritional status surveys.
    • The Ad-hoc surveys are conducted for specific purpose once for all. It is mostly used for testing the hypothesis.

Last modified: Friday, 1 October 2010, 9:26 AM