Web Survey Bibliography
Modern software tools for web surveys increasingly enable fast and friendly implementation of web questionnaires and overall management of the survey process. However, there exists a general tradeoff between easiness of use and powerfulness/capability. Feature-rich solutions may require a high amount of learning and/or even some programming skills, while user-friendly and intuitive applications may offer too few features. In our study, we empirically addressed these two contradicting characteristics of web survey software tools.
We analyzed the largest online list of web surveys software tools – the WebSM database (www.websm.org). The database is continuously updated and includes more than 300 web survey tools.
Initially, we analyzed all database entries according to pricing, complexity, ownership, code availability, language, location and hosting. This provides a general picture about the software that is currently available on the market.
Next, we selected a subsample of 30 software tools from typical groups of tools and studied in more details their features and user-friendliness:
- We repeated a study from 2006, which evaluated and compared the availability of basic and advanced features of web survey software tools.
- Observations and corresponding statistical analyses of the number of clicks needed to create two standardized questionnaires (one simple, one with conditions) was performed.
- The effectiveness and intuitiveness of user interfaces were systematically rated by experts.
- The evaluation was also performed by the end users, who applied certain tools and created a predefined web questionnaire.
Relations between different components of evaluation and relations between different evaluation approaches were analyzed as well. This enables an empirically evaluation of the tradeoff between the two characteristics: user-friendliness and powerfulness.
Finally, we provide some guidance in establishing criteria for selection of the software. This can help users in choosing the optimal software solutions, which fulfill their needs for functionality, usability and cost-effectiveness.
Conference homepage (abstract)
Web survey bibliography (281)
- Overview: Online Surveys; 2017; Vehovar, V.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Standard Definitions Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys; 2016
- Retrospective Measurement of Students’ Extracurricular Activities with a Self-administered Calendar...; 2016; Furthmueller, P.
- Pitfalls, Potentials, and Ethics of Online Survey Research: LGBTQ and Other Marginalized and Hard-to...; 2016; McInroy, L. B.
- Computer-assisted and online data collection in general population surveys; 2016; Skarupova, K.
- A Statistical Approach to Provide Individualized Privacy for Surveys; 2016; Esponda, F.; Huerta, K.; Guerrero, V. M.
- Social Media Analyses for Social Measurement; 2016; Schober, M. F.; Pasek, J.; Guggenheim, L.; Lampe, C.; Conrad, F. G.
- Doing Surveys Online ; 2016; Toepoel, V.
- An Overview of Mobile CATI Issues in Europe; 2015; Slavec, A.; Toninelli, D.
- Utilizing iPads in the Field; 2015; Kiser, P.
- Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys 2015; 2015
- The Web Survey Revolution ; 2015; Murray, D.
- Methodology of the RAND Mid-Term 2014 Election Panel; 2015; Carman, K. G; Pollack, S.
- 28 Questions to Help Buyers of Online Samples; 2015; Cape, P. J.; Phillips, A.; Baker, R.; Cooke, M.; Ribeiro, E.; Terhanian, G.
- Ethical decision-making and Internet research 2.0: Recommendations from the AoIR ethics working committee...; 2015; Markham, A.; Buchanan, E. A.
- Doing online research involving university students with disabilities: Methodological issues; 2015; De Cesarei, A.; Baldaro, B.
- Exploring ethical issues associated with using online surveys in educational research; 2015; Roberts, L. D.; Allen, P. J.
- An Introduction to Survey Research; 2015; Cowles, E. L.; Nelson, E.
- Ethical issues in online research; 2015; James, N.; Busher, H.
- Leading Edge Insights: Foundations of Quality 2.0; 2014; Fuguitt, G.
- Methods and systems for managing an online opinion survey service; 2014; Mcloughlin, M. H., Seton, N., Blesy, K.
- Recent Books and Journals in Public Opinion, Survey Methods, and Survey Statistics; 2014; Callegaro, M.
- Undisclosed Privacy: The Effect of Privacy Rights Design on Response Rates; 2014; Haer, R., Meidert, N.
- Tailoring mode of data collection in longitudinal studies; 2013; Kaminska, O., Lynn, P.
- How do we Know Cognitive Interviewing is Any Good?; 2013; Willis, G. B.
- Quality of Web surveys; 2013; Revilla, M.
- Experiments in Obtaining Data Linkage Consent in Web Surveys ; 2013; Sakshaug, J. W., Kreuter, F.
- Response Burden in Official Business Surveys: Measurement and Reduction Practices of National Statistical...; 2013; Giesen, D., Bavdaz, M., Loefgren, T., Raymond-Blaess, V.
- Internet as a new source of information for the production of official statistics. Experiences of Statistics...; 2013; Heerschap, N.
- A standard with quality indicators for web panel surveys: a Swedish example; 2013; Nyfjaell, M.
- How Mobile Stacks Up to Traditional Online: A Comparison of Studies; 2013; Knowles, R.
- How to make your questionnaire mobile-ready; 2013; Cape, P. J.
- Phish Rising: How Internet Criminals are Undermining the Viability of Online Survey Research…and...; 2013; Kunovic, K.
- Self-Reported Participation in Research Practices Among Survey Methodology Researchers; 2013; Perez-Vergara, K., Smith, C., Lowenstein, C., Ozonoff, A., Martins, Y.
- Ethics, privacy and data security in web-based course evaluation; 2013; Salaschek, M., Meese, C., Thielsch, M.
- Beyond methodology - some ethical implications of "doing research online"; 2013; Heise, N.
- Code Comparison; 2012
- Evaluation procedures for Survey questions; 2012; Saris, W. E.
- Transparency, Access and the Credibility of Survey Research; 2012; Lupia, A.
- Anonymity and Confidentiality; 2012; Tourangeau, R.
- Cognitive Evaluation of Survey Instruments: State of the Science (Art?) and Future Directions; 2012; Willis, G. B.
- How to provide high data quality in online-questionnaires: Setting guidelines in design; 2012; Tries, S., Nebel, S., Blanke, K.
- Comparability of Survey Measurements; 2012; Oberski, D.
- Classification of Surveys; 2012; Stoop, I., Harrison, E.
- Enhancing Web Surveys With New HTML5 Input Types; 2012; Funke, F.
- Why one should incorporate the design weights when adjusting for unit nonresponse using response homogeneity...; 2012; Kott, P. S.
- Assessing the Quality of Survey Data ; 2012; Blasius, J.
- Designing and Doing Survey Research; 2012; Andres, L.
- Using break-offs in web interviews for predicting web response in mixed mode surveys; 2011; Beukenhorst, D.
- Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys 2011; 2011