Online survey programs allow researchers to customize a survey and place it on the Internet for participants to access. Individuals can create their own surveys and post them online, post existing surveys, or, if survey design is difficult, even purchase premade surveys and customize them to meet one’s individual needs. The option of online surveys is quickly becoming a popular means of collecting data in today’s research world. In fact, Cook, Heath, and Thompson (2000) suggest that the possibilities provided through Internet surveys are “too great to be ignored” (p. 833).
Many options are available for researchers wanting to explore this means of data collection. Therefore, this paper has multiple goals. The first is to discuss the relevance of online survey tools in work-family literature. Second is to discuss several of the survey options available, including features common to most programs, as well as to discuss some unique features of each. Lastly, this paper will outline some of the methodological concerns and disadvantages associated with online surveys in order to identify strategies to avoid potential pitfalls. This section will conclude with a discussion on the advantages of online survey tools.
Multiple web-based survey options were examined for this paper (Assess, Qualtrics, StudyResponse Survey Gizmo, Survey Gold, SurveyMonkey, ZipSurvey, and Zoomerang), but specific applications in these survey tools are subject to change. Researchers are encouraged to do their own comparison of different tools based on their specific needs.