Summary
What is a survey? A survey is any activity that collects information in an organised and methodical
manner. It is usually motivated by the need to study the characteristics of a population, build a database for analytical purposes or test a hypothesis.
What are the steps of a survey? A survey is a much more complex procedure than simply asking questions and compiling answers to produce statistics. Numerous steps must be carried out following precise methods and procedures, if the results are to yield accurate information. These steps include formulating the survey objectives, determining the sample design, designing the questionnaire, performing data collection, processing and tabulating data and disseminating results. How are the steps implemented? Execution of a survey can be described as a life cycle with four phases.
The first phase is planning during which the survey objectives, methodology, budget and schedule of activities are established. The next phase is the design and development of the survey steps. The third phase is the implementation of the survey steps. During implementation, quality is measured and monitored in order to ensure that the processes are working as planned. Finally, the survey steps are reviewed and evaluated.