Survey_Week_4

Surveys Cheryll Harris Surveys QNT 561 Jack McNicholas January 31, 2011 In the following, decide whether you should use a personal interview, telephone survey, or self-administered questionnaire for each scenario. 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. Conducting a self-administered questionnaire which asks the specific questions about their thoughts and feelings would best suit this situation. The questionnaire could be given to the residents once they buy the home, or when they initially move into the subdivision. The residents are excited and would feel privileged that their input is valued. This can be a tool that provides the building with a more accurate demographic report and to determine how far to expand if at all. b. A poll of students at Metro University on their preferences among three candidates who are running for president of student government. A personal interview would be appropriate for this scenario because there are a smaller number of students and the access is easier at the University. The students’ time is also flexible and the opportunity to conduct the interviewing is endless. Lastly, if the students are one on one with a person it is possible that the confidence level will increase and they may provide a wealth of information. c. A survey of 58 wholesale grocery companies scattered over the eastern United States, on their personnel management policies for warehouse personnel. The best way to successfully reach out to 58 companies scattered over the US would be by telephone. Conducting a telephone survey will save the distributors both time and money. The companies would be willing to answer the phone and participate simply because the questions are geared toward their management teams and this provides a sense of worth. Asking the input of the companies about decisions of their management and how they are affected shows that they are not only appreciated but the work they perform daily goes noticed. 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. Financial officers may be difficult to reach. The survey approach must be quick and simple. Conducting a telephone survey may benefit those completing the survey as well as those collecting the data. 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. Due to the large amount of participants, a self-administered questionnaire would be the most efficient way to gather this information. A questionnaire can be distributed fairly quickly and the results will provide greater amount of data. The distributor of the survey must ask the questions that are intended to answer. The survey will need to provide data that is useful and reliable to maintain the number of work-study programs.