Web Survey Bibliography
Popularity of web surveys was largely fostered by a development of dedicated software applications. Web survey software tools have, over the last ten years, evolved from primarily command-line-based tools to easy-to-use applications with graphical user interfaces. These tools have become an important market segment, with many applications on the market, differing in terms of functionality, complexity and costs. However, with all software applications a general tradeoff between their user-friendliness (usability) and powerfulness may exist. 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 investigate whether such tradeoff exists also for web survey software.
In the first part, we provide an overview of software tools available on the market. We analyze availability of selected basic features of the tools included in the WebSM database. In addition, we re-analyze a sample of 72 software tools that were already included in a study conducted in 2006. This offers some empirical insight into a development of these applications.
The main part of the paper is devoted to empirical analysis of relations between powerfulness and user-friendliness of web survey software. Several evaluators were asked to implement a standardized web survey in each of the 27 selected tools. After implementing the questionnaire in each software tool, the evaluators were asked to complete the Software Usability Measurement Inventory (SUMI) questionnaire, aimed at measuring the user satisfaction component of usability. In addition, computers of the evaluators were equipped with a special software, measuring time and number of clicks and keystrokes separately for each part of the test survey project. Two other evaluators independently evaluated the tools according to a comprehensive list of available features. On the basis of the collected data, analysis of relations between powerfulness and different components of usability is conducted.
The results of the analysis serve for a final discussion of the role of different usability aspects in selecting web survey software for different purposes and in different organizational specifics, including survey implementation needs and policies, available resources, technical staff and knowledge.
Web survey bibliography - Lozar Manfreda, K. (27)
- Overview: Online Surveys; 2017; Vehovar, V.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Web Surveys Versus Other Survey Modes: An Updated Meta-analysis Comparing Response Rates ; 2016; Wengrzik, J.; Bosnjak, M.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- The effect of email invitation elements on response rate in a web survey within an online community; 2016; Petrovcic, A.; Petric, G.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- The effect of email invitation characteristics and response reluctance on non-response in web forum...; 2013; Petrovcic, A., Lozar Manfreda, K., Petric, G.
- Data quality of questions sensitive to social-desirability bias in web surveys; 2012; Lozar Manfreda, K., Zajc, N., Berzelak, N., Vehovar, V.
- Research design for studying online communities with web surveys; 2012; Petrovcic, A., Petric, G., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Effect of different stimulus on data quality in online panels; 2012; Zagar, S., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Current Projects at University of Ljubljana; 2011; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Nonresponse in Web Surveys ; 2011; Lozar Manfreda, K., Berzelak, N., Vehovar, V.
- Cost-Error Optimization Model for Mixed-Mode Surveys; 2009; Vehovar, V., Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Relations between functionality and usability of Web survey software tools: An empirical evaluation; 2009; Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Empirical Evaluation of Web Survey Software Tools: Powerful or Friendly?; 2009; Vehovar, V., Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K., Horvat, T., Debevc, M.
- Optimising survey costs in mixed mode environment; 2009; Vehovar, V., Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K., Belak, E.
- Effectiveness of incentives in web surveys within mixed-mode systems: An evaluation of errors & costs...; 2009; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Internet surveys; 2008; Lozar Manfreda, K., Vehovar, V.
- What Can We Achieve With 5 Euros? Optimization of Survey Data Quality Using Mixed-Mode Approaches; 2008; Berzelak, N., Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Nonresponse in web surveys within the context of survey errors and survey costs; 2008; Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K., Vehovar, V.
- Integration of the web into survey data collection: Balancing costs and errors; 2008; Vehovar, V., Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Optimization of costs and errors in mixed-mode surveys; 2008; Vehovar, V., Berzelak, N., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Overview: Online Surveys; 2008; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Measuring ego-centered social networks on the web: Questionnaire design issues ; 2008; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K., Koren, G., Hlebec, V.
- Internet surveys; 2008; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K., Koren, G.
- Collecting Data on Ego-Centered Social Networks on the Web: Methodological Issues; 2004; Lozar Manfreda, K., Vehovar, V., Hlebec, V.
- Mode Effect in Web Surveys; 2002; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Nonresponse in Web Surveys; 2002; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K., , Batagelj, Z.
- Web survey errors; 2001; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Virtual Selves and Web Surveys; 2001; Lozar Manfreda, K., Couper, M. P., Vohar, M., Rivas, S., Vehovar, V.