Best Practices for Validating Online Surveys
What technique is exclusively used for the validation of online surveys?
a. Exclude speeders
b. Check for contradictory responses
c. Check that the interviewer was courteous
d. Check all the questions were asked
e. Was the interview conducted in the appropriate location
Answer:
The technique that is exclusively used for the validation of online surveys is a. Exclude speeders.
Online surveys often encounter the issue of respondents who complete the survey hastily or without sufficient attention, commonly referred to as "speeders." Speeders tend to provide quick and careless responses, which can compromise the quality and validity of the data collected. Therefore, excluding speeders is a specific technique used for the validation of online surveys.
Excluding speeders involves identifying and removing respondents who exhibit certain characteristics indicative of rushed or inattentive completion. These characteristics can include completing the survey too quickly, providing identical or repetitive responses, or demonstrating inconsistent response patterns. By excluding speeders, researchers aim to eliminate unreliable or low-quality data from their analysis, ensuring that the remaining dataset reflects more accurate and thoughtful responses.
Other techniques mentioned in the options, such as checking for contradictory responses and verifying the interviewer's courtesy, are not exclusive to online surveys. They can be applicable to various survey modes, including telephone interviews. Checking for contradictory responses helps identify inconsistencies or errors in respondents' answers, enabling researchers to validate the data and address any issues that may arise. Verifying the interviewer's courtesy is relevant when surveys are conducted in person or through phone interviews, as it pertains to the behavior and professionalism of the interviewer.
Checking that all the questions were asked is a general practice in survey administration regardless of the mode, including both online and telephone surveys. This ensures that respondents have been presented with all the intended questions and that no missing data or incomplete responses are present.
Assessing whether the interview was conducted in the appropriate location is more relevant for face-to-face interviews or surveys conducted on-site. It ensures that the survey environment aligns with the research objectives and that any potential bias or interference from the surroundings is minimized. This consideration is not exclusive to online surveys.
In summary, excluding speeders is a specific technique used for the validation of online surveys. It addresses the unique challenge of rushed or inattentive responses commonly observed in online survey data. Other techniques, such as checking for contradictory responses, verifying interviewer courtesy, ensuring all questions were asked, and assessing the appropriate interview location, are applicable to various survey modes and not exclusive to online surveys.