Crafting Superior Surveys and Survey Questions is significantly different in both approach and content versus other survey books. Our goal is to provide a valuable, comprehensive and easy to use resource for those new to surveys as well as those who are experienced but seek to improve their skills.

Approach

We believe in active versus passive learning. A significant portion of Crafting Superior Surveys consists of hands-on learning exercises where you'll have the chance to apply what you've read to actual survey questions. You'll be asked to evaluate existing questions as well as generate your own survey questions in response to specific information needs. The feedback we provide to both these activities will help you solidify and extend your understanding of survey design and question writing.

Content

Crafting Superior Surveys is distinguished from other survey books in several important ways:

• Greater breadth of coverage. Crafting Superior Surveys covers standard survey and question design topics. Beyond these topics, we discuss equally important but typically ignored topics, for example: the use of vignettes to provide deeper insights into attitudes and behaviors; the use of randomization methods to increase the quality of responses to sensitive questions; and the characteristics of and remedies for satisficing. We also provide a discussion of question types not typically covered in other books. Finally, we pay special attention to the design of questions intended for use in on-line surveys.
  
  
• Greater depth of coverage. Throughout the book we provide in-depth discussion of topics that affect survey and question quality, illustrating key concepts with multiple annotated examples. This results in more than a how to guide but rather a learning guide that helps you understand why some approaches work better than others.
  
  
• Taking theory into practice. A great deal of research on surveys has been conducted by academic researchers. We've incorporated their findings into nontechnical discussions throughout the book.
  
  
• Real-world grounding. The vast majority of Crafting Superior Surveys' examples and recommendations reflect real-world practices. This real-world focus can also be seen in the seven full length surveys to which we provide access.
  
  
• A look at analysis. The inclusion of these brief analysis-focused chapters reflects our belief that choosing and writing the right question requires an understanding of the types of insights the question allows.