User Profiling Techniques - Surveys
Definition: survey
"A "survey" is used most often to describe a method of gathering information from a sample of individuals. This "sample" is usually just a fraction of the population being studied."
Source: http://www.stat.ncsu.edu/info/srms/survwhat.html [
] (12/09/03)
Purpose
A user survey can be used to ask both specific and factual, or subjective questions from users. It is the most appropriate means of gathering information about the profile and experiences of users located in geographically dispersed areas.
Advantages
Surveys:
- are relatively cheap and easy to administer,
- allow for anonymity of responses,
- are useful for accessing large sample size,
- allow easy comparison of answers, and
- allow flexibility - many questions may be asked on a given topic.
Disadvantages
Surveys have certain disadvantages, such as:
- a potentially low response rate,
- a risk of responses not mapping to the representative user group if fielded randomly,
- they are based totally on the user's recollection of facts and information.
Contact for information on this page: nsip@finance.gov.au