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Surveys or Questionnaires or Survey Research [ERIC Descriptors]
AND
Internet or World Wide Web or Electronic Mail [ERIC Descriptors]
AND
Research Methodology or Educational Research or Research [ERIC Descriptors]

  EJ562379  CS755184
  Casting the Net: Surveying an Internet Population.
  Smith, Christine Biship
  Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, v3 n1 Jun 
  1997
  ISSN: 1083-6101
  Document Type: REVIEW LITERATURE (070);  JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
  Presents a summary review of the comparative literature on e-mail 
and "snail mail" surveys and a more extensive research review 
involving Web-based methods.  Contrasts e-mail and Web-based survey 
techniques used in an ongoing study of the Web presence provider 
industry.  Highlights practical issues of Web-surveying methods, such 
as programming pitfalls, sample-building, and incentives.  (RS)
  Descriptors: Comparative Analysis; *Electronic Mail; Higher 
Education; Literature Reviews; Research Methodology; Sample Size; 
*Surveys; *World Wide Web


  ED409860  IR018449
  Conducting Research on the Internet: Strategies for Electronic 
Interviewing.
  Persichitte, Kay A.; And Others
  1997
  6p.; In: Proceedings of Selected Research and Development 
Presentations at the 1997 National Convention of the Association for 
Educational Communications and Technology (19th, Albuquerque, NM, 
February 14-18, 1997); see IR 018 421.
  Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143);  CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
  This study provides guidelines for using electronic mail for data 
collection and sheds light on some of the substantive issues related 
to research via this medium.  Researchers creating electronic 
interview situations for the study stressed that the atmosphere 
should be informal and conversational.  Interviewees were encouraged 
to use typical expressions of emotion--"emotext" or "emoticons"--and 
to use other innovative ways of expressing their feelings or emphases.   The
topic addressed was how the respondents used technology.  Results  indicated
that many of the difficulties inherent in face-to-face 
interviews were overcome in the electronic medium.  The researchers 
were unable to interrupt the interviewees or to give nonverbal 
evaluative responses.  Both the researchers and the interviewees were  able
to take the time to be thoughtful and careful in their responses  to each
other, increasing the depth of understanding for both parties.   Neither the
researchers nor the interviewees had to schedule 
appointments or be concerned with the effects of interruptions.  
Although some caution remains regarding the validity of responses 
collected in this way, general advantages of interviewing using 
electronic mail rather than traditional face-to-face interviews 
include: reduced time and cost; convenience; unimportance of 
geographic location and the possibility for more sampling diversity; 
the potential for large amount of data to be accumulated quickly; the 
allowance for more thorough and thoughtful follow-up and 
clarification; single-step, non-interfering recording and 
transcription; no danger or discomfort for the researcher; and the 
ability to continue the interview process until the researcher is 
satisfied that a saturation point has been reached.  A list of 
guidelines are included for researchers who are considering 
conducting research via electronic mail using interviews.  A copy of 
the letter that was sent to participants is included.  (Contains 10 
references.) (AEF)
  Descriptors: *Data Collection; *Electronic Mail; Evaluation Methods; 
Guidelines; Higher Education; Information Technology; Interaction; 
Internet; *Interviews; Questioning Techniques; *Research Methodology; 
Validity
  Identifiers: *Communication Behavior; Cyberspace; Electronic Media;  Face
to Face Communication


  EJ547840  IR535347
  Using the World Wide Web to Conduct a Needs Assessment.
  Fulop, Mark P.; And Others
  Performance Improvement, v36 n6 p22-27 Jul   1997
  Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080);  PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141)
  Demonstrates how electronic mail and the World Wide Web are 
effective tools for focus group research and programmatic decision 
making by highlighting how an electronic needs assessment survey was 
conducted on participants' use of the Web.  Sidebars contain the four-
step focus group methodology; sample questions and responses; and a 
comparison of real time and e-mail focus groups.  (AEF)
  Descriptors: Decision Making; *Electronic Mail; Focus Groups; 
Information Technology; *Needs Assessment; *Research Methodology; 

   
  ED411292  TM027300
  E-Mail Survey of a Listserv Discussion Group: Lessons Learned from 
Surveying an Electronic Network of Learners.
  Meehan, Merrill L.; Burns, Rebecca C.
  Appalachia Educational Lab., Charleston, WV.  1997
  26p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American 
Educational Research Association (Chicago, IL, March 24-28, 1997).
  Sponsoring Agency: Office of Educational Research and Improvement 
(ED), Washington, DC.
  Document Type: EVALUATIVE REPORT (142);  CONFERENCE PAPER (150);  
TEST, QUESTIONNAIRE (160)
  An electronic survey of a listserv discussion group, the 
Interdisciplinary Teamed Instruction (ITI) group, was conducted to 
learn more about the group and to explore surveying electronically.  
A 10-question survey was posted electronically, as were respondents' 
replies.  Three reminders were posted over the 3-week reply period.  
The number of subscribers was estimated at 250 in the United States 
and 6 foreign countries.  Twenty-three completed surveys were 
returned in the first 24 hours, and only 26 more were completed in 
the next 3 weeks, for a final response rate of 23.6%.  Results 
suggest that the listserv is an active community of learners.  They 
also demonstrate that defining the real population becomes a 
technological problem.  If one were to hypothesize that an active 
electronic community would respond better than other groups to a 
survey, these results would not support the hypothesis, although 
respondents to the initial effort provided very rapid responses.  The 
major implications of the research approach are: (1) to calculate an 
accurate response rate, it is crucial to determine the exact number 
of listserv subscribers before first posting the survey; and (2) more 
efforts should be put into an electronic survey before its first 
posting, such as announcements.  The survey text is attached.  
(Contains 11 references.) (Author/SLD)
  Descriptors: *Electronic Mail; Foreign Countries; Research Design; 
Research Methodology; *Response Rates (Questionnaires); *Sample Size; 
Sampling; *Surveys; *Teachers; Teamwork
  Identifiers: *Listserv Discussion Groups

  
  ED410862  HE030458
  Between Anecdote and Science: Using E-Mail To Learn about Student 
Experiences. AIR 1997 Annual Forum Paper.
  Furlong, Deborah K.
  1997
  21p.; Paper presented at the Annual Forum of the Association for 
Institutional Research (37th, Orlando, FL, May 18-21, 1997).
  Document Type: EVALUATIVE REPORT (142);  CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
  Institutional research has long relied on surveys to learn about 
student experiences.  This study describes and evaluates two methods 
of using electronic mail to gather information from students about 
their experiences.  Data were based on two case studies conducted 
during spring 1996 and fall 1997 at a 5,000-student state university.  
The report discusses some of the potential benefits of using e-mail 
to conduct survey research: faster response rates, the lack of 
intermediaries increases the chances that respondents will receive 
the survey promptly, asynchronous communication allows users to think  
about answers, and the medium itself may encourage users to respond 
more candidly. E-mail distribution lists are used to distribute 
questions and collect responses.  Hypertext markup language (HTML) 
forms can be posted to an Internet web site to conduct survey 
research.  While data from electronic surveys may not be as 
representative as that from a mail survey, the former is more likely 
to save money and time.  Sample HTML form commands, a HTML form file, 
input types and subcommands, and HTML code used for a first-year 
survey are included.  (Contains 10 references.) (CH)
  Descriptors: Computer Mediated Communication; *Educational Research; 
*Electronic Mail; Electronic Text; Higher Education; Institutional 
Research; Internet; Questionnaires; *Research Methodology; State 
Universities; *Student Experience; *Student Surveys; Technology; 
Technology Transfer; Telecommunications; World Wide Web
  Identifiers: *AIR Forum; *HTML; Survey Research


  ED412911  IR018560
  Survey Data on Your Desktop: The Future for Library Managers.
  Coates, Renata G.; Fanshier, Marsha
  1997
  14p.; Paper presented at "The Universe at Your Fingertips: 
Continuing Web Education." Conference Sponsored by the Librarians 
Association of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Friends 
of the UCSB Library, and the Black Gold Cooperative Library System 
Reference Committee (Santa Barbara, CA, April 25, 1997). For papers 
from the proceedings of this conference, downloaded and printed out 
from the UCSB Web site, see IR 018 545-561.
  Available From: Electronic version: 
http://www.library.ucsb.edu/universe/coates.html
  Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141);  CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
  The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Libraries User Survey 
was designed to have its results in machine-readable form.  Library 
management, anticipating the need for detailed statistics for future 
decision making, required that the survey results be manipulatable by 
library managers.  Responses to the 1996 use survey were solicited 
from three primary user categories: undergraduates, graduate
students, and faculty.  The data is accessible through an interactive 
website, and allows universal access from any individual's desktop.  
The user survey website features: interactive query-based access from
Web forms; formatted tables; analytical functionality including cross-
tabs and graphing; and data file format export capabilities.  Survey 
responses can be considered against a number of variables, including 
gender, year in school and major for students, and department and 
number of years at the university for faculty.  The paper describes 
the design of HTML forms, output files, programming, and data 
application.  The majority of the paper provides a detailed example 
of use of the survey data by a hypothetical branch manager assessing 
usage in relation to library hours.  (Contains 12 references.) (SWC)
  Descriptors: Academic Libraries; *Access to Information; Higher 
Education; Institutional Research; *Library Research; Library 
Statistics; *Library Surveys; *Research Utilization; *Use Studies; 
Users (Information); *World Wide Web
  Identifiers: University of California San Diego

  
  EJ523177  IR532799
  Electronic Bulletin Board Distributed Questionnaires for 
Exploratory Research.
  Miller, James; And Others
  Journal of Information Science, v22 n2 p107-15   1996
  ISSN: 0165-5515
  Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143);  TEST, QUESTIONNAIRE (160);  
JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
  Discusses advantages and disadvantages of electronic bulletin 
boards, compares it with other possible alternatives, and describes a 
questionnaire study conducted via Usenet and via traditional mail 
that investigated self-selection bias.  The questionnaire on object-
oriented systems is appended.  (LRW)
  Descriptors: Comparative Analysis; *Electronic Mail; 
*Questionnaires; Research Methodology
  Identifiers: Object Oriented Programming; Postal Service; *Self 
Selection Bias; USENET


  EJ499825  IR530326
  Using Electronic Mail to Conduct Survey Research.
  Thach, Liz
  Educational Technology, v35 n2 p27-31 Mar-Apr   1995
  ISSN: 0013-1962
  Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141);  EVALUATIVE REPORT (142); 
 JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
  Describes public and private online networks and the 
characteristics of electronic mail.  Reviews the literature on survey 
research conducted via electronic mail, and examines the issues of 
design, implementation, and response.  A table displays advantages 
and disadvantages of electronic mail surveys.  (AEF)
  Descriptors: Comparative Analysis; *Electronic Mail; *Information 
Networks; Literature Reviews; *Mail Surveys; *Online Systems; Program 
Implementation; *Research Design; *Research Methodology; Research 
Tools; Responses
  Identifiers: Private Industry; Public Access

  
  EJ489697  IR529204
  Fishing with the Net for Research Data.
  Foster, Geoff
  British Journal of Educational Technology, v25 n2 p91-97 May 
  1994
  ISSN: 0007-1013
  Document Type: POSITION PAPER (120);  EVALUATIVE REPORT (142);  
JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
  Describes a trial use of electronic mail to interview academic 
teachers on how they plan subject courses.  Advantages of electronic 
interviewing, such as cost and convenience, and issues, including 
complying with network etiquette, are discussed.  A copy of part of 
the electronic interview used in the trial is appended.  (Contains 
two references.) (KRN)
  Descriptors: College Faculty; Computer Networks; Costs; Educational 
Planning; *Electronic Mail; Higher Education; Information Networks; 
*Interviews; Problems; Qualitative Research; Research Methodology; 
Scheduling
  Identifiers: Course Development; Etiquette; *Internet; LISTSERVS; 
Teacher Surveys; Trials


  ED355969  IR054530
  The Electronic Survey as a Research Tool: A Case Study of BALT-L.
  Sudmalis, Linda
  Nov 1992
  150p.; Master's Research Paper, Kent State University.
  Document Type: THESIS (042);  RESEARCH REPORT (143);  TEST, 
QUESTIONNAIRE (160)
  The purpose of this research study was to compose a user profile of  
one specific electronic conference/electronic mail (e-conference/e-
mail) discussion group through an in-depth case study, using a survey 
administered, collected, and tabulated electronically.  The BALT-L is 
an online forum devoted to communication to and about the Baltic 
republics of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.  Responses of 80 out of 
a total of 558 subscribers indicate that the typical user is male (85 
percent), and that 30 percent of the respondents are between 19 and 
29 years old.  If U.S. educational levels were applied, 46.25 percent 
have a doctorate.  While most subscribers (82.5 percent) belong to 
more than 10 e-conference/e-mail groups, the average user belonged to
8, and 3 individuals belonged to 50 each.  Thirty-five percent ranked 
accessing general background information on a subject as their 
primary reason for accessing this medium.  Responses originated from 
14 geographic areas, with 63.75 percent from the United States.  A 
full 40 percent of the respondents were not of Baltic heritage, while 
26.25 percent were Lithuanian, 23.75 percent were Latvian, and 10 
percent were Estonian.  Unique considerations in conducting research 
in an electronic medium, such as confidentiality and tailoring 
inquiries to the international audience, are also addressed.  Twenty-
four tables present survey responses.  Seven appendixes contain 
supplemental information about the group and the survey process.  
(Contains 30 references.) (Author/SLD)
  Descriptors: Case Studies; Computer Assisted Testing; Conferences; 
Confidentiality; Electronic Mail; Foreign Countries; *Information 
Networks; *International Studies; Profiles; *Research Methodology; 
*Surveys; Tables (Data); Teleconferencing; User Needs (Information); 
*Users (Information); User Satisfaction (Information); Use Studies
  Identifiers: Baltic States; *BALT L Discussion Group; *Electronic 
Testing

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