Web Survey Bibliography
Title Utilization of an Internet survey of work-family conflict among home-based teleworkers
Author Ben-Baruch, D., Harpaz, I.
Year 2004
Access date 14.09.2004
Abstract The study, dealing with work-family conflict, examined a relatively new research method: surveys and data collection via the Internet.
The sample consisted of Israeli high-tech employees who were home-based teleworkers (individuals working from their home at least 8 hours per week or a full working day). It is hard to reach this type of sample by conventional survey techniques. Nevertheless, all employees in this industry use personal computer and Internet connection as a necessary condition of its home-based telework facilities. This was the key motivator for choosing the Internet as an optimal research tool for the present study.
The target population was informed about the study in two ways: first, by an attached link to the research website delivered via e-mail to decision makers in high-tech organizations. The latter were asked to forward a note about the link to their home-based teleworkers. Second, through a newsletter distributed by means of a commercial Internet site, the largest human resources website in Israel specializing in high-tech industry. To enlarge the response rate a prize money was offered to be raffled among all those who answered the questionnaire.
The web-based questionnaire included 80 items focusing on work-family conflict measures, including job satisfaction, organizational commitment, importance of life areas, and various important organizational variables.
There were 1230 entries registered, and of these 406 individuals chose to reply (33% response rate). The primary data traffic observed in the first three days from the newsletter delivery time included about 80% of all study’s participants.
The paper reviews the procedure of designing the study through checking such aspects as clarity, and ambiguity, including advantages and disadvantages of using Internet surveys and data collection through an examination of our exploratory Internet survey and data collection.
Through the present study of Internet survey among home-based teleworkers, we propose a research method that can assist researchers in planning, designing, and constructing a study by using the Internet as a means of data collection and a substitute for "classic" research techniques such as paper and pencil and questionnaires sent via snail mail.
Year of publication2004
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
