"The State of Survey Research"

Abstract

There is widespread recognition that survey research today faces significant methodological challenges. People are harder to reach and, when reached, they are less willing to answer questions. At the same time that survey research faces new methodological challenges, new technologies have made it less expensive to conduct a survey - especially using opt-in, Internet samples - so we now find the academic landscape dotted with more original surveys than ever before. In an environment with more surveys but also more threats to survey methods, it has become more difficult - but also more important - to evaluate survey quality. Drawing on the extensive research in survey methodology, I will to outline ways to evaluate, reduce, and correct survey errors, highlighting both the challenges facing survey work and the opportunities for new methodological research.