About Web Surveys

Abstract

This chapter describes the various forms of online data collection, from simple e-mail surveys to advanced web surveys. It shows how to use web surveys for different target populations, for cross-sectional data collection, and for longitudinal data collection (panels). The chapter discusses the main reasons for online data collection, the advantages and disadvantages, areas of application, and specific related problems. It provides a general overview of different approaches of conducting web surveys. For each approach and each situation, different problems may occur, and therefore different methodological solutions are required. From the methodological point of view, behavioral analyses rely to the Cognitive Aspects of Survey Methodology Movement, and, in many empirical studies, the theory of planned behavior model is applied. The main objective is to obtain a more comprehensible picture on how intentions form.

Authors 2

1. Silvia Biffignandi

   University of Bergamo

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Bergamo, Italy

2. Jelke G. Bethlehem Aachen Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Institute of Political Science

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, The Netherlands