Web-based approaches are increasingly being used for carrying out surveys, for example in research or to obtain user feedback in product and systems development. However, the drawbacks of web surveying are often overlooked. Errors in web surveys can be related to sampling, coverage, measurement, and non-response issues. Low response rates and non-response bias are particularly important for web-based surveys. This paper reports on a web-based survey in an international engineering consultancy, aimed at eliciting feedback on the development of systems to support sustainable engineering, that produced a low response rate. To investigate the reasons for this, a follow-up survey was conducted by telephone. The majority of those questioned were unaware of the original survey. The telephone survey showed that reasons for non-completion by those who were aware may be categorized as resources issues, relevance, and fatigue. Differences between those who were aware of the original survey and those who were not are explored and a gap is found between action and intention, i.e. good intentions to complete a survey are very unlikely to translate into action and completed surveys. The paper concludes with practical guidance for administering web-based surveys and observations on the merits of telephone surveys.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2010 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
August 15–18, 2010
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division and Computers in Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4411-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Addressing Data Collection Problems in Web-Mediated Surveys
Nicholas Meese,
Nicholas Meese
University of Bath, Bath, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Richard Vidgen,
Richard Vidgen
University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Philip Powell,
Philip Powell
University of London, London, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Chris McMahon
Chris McMahon
University of Bath, Bath, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Nicholas Meese
University of Bath, Bath, UK
Juani Swart
University of Bath, Bath, UK
Richard Vidgen
University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Philip Powell
University of London, London, UK
Chris McMahon
University of Bath, Bath, UK
Paper No:
DETC2010-28353, pp. 449-456; 8 pages
Published Online:
March 8, 2011
Citation
Meese, N, Swart, J, Vidgen, R, Powell, P, & McMahon, C. "Addressing Data Collection Problems in Web-Mediated Surveys." Proceedings of the ASME 2010 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 3: 30th Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, Parts A and B. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. August 15–18, 2010. pp. 449-456. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2010-28353
Download citation file:
3
Views
0
Citations
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Exploring the Tactor Configurations of Vibrotactile Feedback Systems for Use in Lower-Limb Prostheses
J. Vib. Acoust (October,2019)
Boosting Speed and Accuracy in Precision Motion Control
Mechanical Engineering (September,2018)
Analytical Models for Certain Guideway Irregularities
J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control (December,1975)
Related Chapters
A PSA Update to Reflect Procedural Changes (PSAM-0217)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)
The Human Factor in Network System Survivability (PSAM-0090)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)
A Study on the Application of the Vehicle's Intelligent Weighing System
International Conference on Information Technology and Computer Science, 3rd (ITCS 2011)