Bristol Online Surveys

An under utilised resource?

Nick Lewis

A quick poll…

• Who is aware of ‘Bristol Online Survey’?

So, what is it?

• An online survey facility – just like many others…

•…so nothing new there then…?

Full University Licence

• Full access to all available features

– Just need to register & have an account created

• Many online providers only offer basic services UNLESS you pay

• BOS – Free!

Increasing use of Online

• Many reasons for this, however…

– Survey still needs to be appropriately designed & structured

– No room for ambiguity

• Postal – people can write on survey

– Dillman (2000) ‘Total Design Method’

Advantages of Online

• Time and cost savings

• Ability to reach a large and dispersed population

• Ability to present more complex information (visual/audio media)

• Data is automatically entered

• Range of questions – open/single/multiple responses –ability to ‘guide’ respondent with root questions (If yes/if no – go to Q.x)

• Easy to track responses, if desired

• Promotion via social media

Disadvantages

• Differences in response rates within population groups – age/gender etc

• Ensuring representative sample

• Potential compatibility issues with analysis software

• Issues related to email addresses – people often use more than one

• Impersonal

• Respondent frustration (mandatory questions)

Bristol Online Surveys

• We/CCRI were unaware

• Used by 130+ Universities, public sector bodies & national surveys

• Authoritative?

• Lack of awareness within the University?

• https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/

A sample questionnaire

• https://surveys.glos.ac.uk/winterschool

BOS Features

References

Dilman (2000) Mail and Internet Surveys – The Tailored Design Method

S Lefever; Dal, M; Matthíasdóttir A, (2006) Online data collection in academic research: advantages and limitations, British Journal of Educational Technology Volume 38, Issue 4, pages 574–582

Joel R. Evans, Anil Mathur, (2005),The value of online surveys, Internet Research, Vol. 15 Iss: 2 pp.195 – 219

Wright, K (2006) Researching Internet-Based Populations: Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Survey Research, Online Questionnaire Authoring Software Packages, and Web Survey Services Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication Volume 10, Issue 3, April 2005