Thinking about Surveys - blog 10

(1) Since discourse is “saying, doing and being”, it’s no wonder that the diction of a survey can have a large impact as to its effectiveness. What is said makes implications about what is expected to be. Also, the discourse communities that the survey takers belong to will have an effect on their ability to understand and do the survey “correctly”. For example, we discussed in class that writing the questions in “plain English” would help the students to understand them and answer accordingly. This is more necessary for students taking the survey at the beginning of their writing major, as they are not yet part of the discourse community of English majors at Kean University. Someone who has finished the program is “in” and will understand the lingo used in the survey. 

(2) I think surveys have a purpose, even for all of their limitations. Surveys, when written well, will give a general consensus on the people’s opinion of a topic. Basically, we can find out if a group of people agree or disagree with a given premise. What premise we want to find out about needs to be identified, then the phrasing chosen accordingly so that the survey taker can answer the question honestly. 

(3) One challenge the researcher will face is deciding how to deal with the information they’ve gathered. I find it risky to take the answers of a survey and present them as cold hard fact. However, if they’re balanced against the results of a variety of research methods, there’s more likelihood of painting a picture of reality. Another challenge is deciding exactly what information it is you’re trying to get. I think it’s important to choose that first, then design your research carefully to give you the information you want. It may mean choosing a research method that is less easy or preferable. Surveys are only good if you know what you’re trying to get from them, and make a strong effort to design them so they give you that. Even still, results cannot be forced and your research may take an unexpected turn. This is alright. Sometimes it may be best to follow a tangent where it leads you, and approach your own research question more in depth another time. The tangent could come back to help you later.