Surveys

Surveys are the most frequently used mode of observation within the social sciences, including criminology (Maxfield and Babbie, 1995). Basically, survey research involves the collection of information from a sample of individuals through their responses to questions (Schutt, 1999). Survey research can be carried out through mail or email, by telephone, or in person.

Typically, surveys contain a combination of open- and close-ended questions. Open-ended questions ask the respondent to provide an answer to a particular question. For example, the respondent may be asked, “What do you think is the most important problem facing residents in your neighborhood today?” Then, in his or her own words, the respondent would provide his or her answer. On the other hand, close-ended questions ask the respondents to select an answer from a list of choices provided. For example, the question asked above would read exactly the same, only now respondents are provided with a list of options to choose from: “What do you think is the most important problem facing residents in your neighborhood today? (a) Crime, (b) drugs, (c) education, or (d) employment.”

Surveys offer a number of attractive features that make them a popular method of doing research. They are versatile, efficient, inexpensive, and generalizable. At the same time, survey methods may be limited due to problems in sampling, measurement, and overall survey design. When creating a survey, researchers should take care in making sure that the items in the survey are clear and to the point.

A crime analyst might survey residents in an apartment building where there have been a number of burglaries in order to determine the rate of victimization and what methods residents have used to protect themselves from becoming victims.