TYPES OF SURVEYS

Survey research is a widely utilised quantitative method in social sciences, education, and healthcare. It entails gathering standardised data through a series of questions posed to participants, which can then be analysed statistically. Through this statistical analysis, researchers can conclude the broader population from which the sample was taken. Surveys are commonly used better to understand individuals' beliefs, attitudes, and opinions and to report their experiences and behaviours. While the data collected from surveys is subjective, more objective data such as age and place of birth can be obtained through other means (Leavy, 2022).

There are two primary methodological designs in survey research.

Cross-Sectional Survey is a method of collecting data about a group of individuals at a specific time (Mtshweni, 2019). Such surveys are often legitimate from a theoretical standpoint, as they allow researchers to conclude the relationship between independent and dependent variables. However, since only one data set is available for independent and dependent variables, cross-sectional surveys cannot prove causality. Researchers must rely on theory, logic, and intuition to support the findings and conclusions from cross-sectional studies. In other words, researchers should only use cross-sectional data to test theories if there is a clear temporal relationship between the independent and dependent variables. A cross-sectional survey can be a powerful tool for testing hypotheses when there are explicit theoretical assumptions about the relationship. Nonetheless, empirical relationships are only sometimes clear-cut, and it can be challenging to derive causal explanations from cross-sectional studies.

Longitudinal Surveys are a unique type of research that differs from cross-sectional studies in that they are conducted repeatedly over an extended period of time. Each survey consists of the same set of questions, allowing researchers to gain invaluable insights into the evolution of attitudes and behaviours within a population. These surveys can be classified into three categories: trend, cohort, and panel (Leavy, 2022; Stockemer, 2019; Watson, 2015).

• A Trend study, often called a repeated cross-sectional survey, involves conducting multiple surveys with different groups of individuals over time. The surveys include the same questions in each wave, fully or partially. This method enables researchers to identify significant shifts in attitudes and behaviours over time.
• Cohort studies have a narrower focus, as they focus on a particular group rather than the entire population. Like trend studies, cohort studies involve recurring inquiries directed solely at a selected group of people with a shared characteristic. Each iteration involves a new sample from the same population, indicating that the population remains constant while the individuals sampled vary (Price & Lovell, 2018).
• Finally, Panel studies are known for asking the same set of questions to the same individuals in multiple waves. While these surveys can be quite costly and challenging to conduct, they are considered the most effective way to detect causal relationships or changes in individual behaviour. As a result, panel studies serve as a powerful tool in identifying such relationships.