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A Survey Study On How Survey Studies Affects The Proportion Of Potential Respondents

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Introduction

One of the primary obstacles in survey studies is often eliciting responses from surveyed individuals. As we have seen throughout this semester, larger sample sizes are beneficial to statistical analyses, as increasing the sample size can increase the power of a hypothesis test, reduce the sampling variability in a sample, and meet the baseline number of collected ‘observations’ that are needed to perform specific analyses. This is not to say that larger sample sizes are unequivocally better; a truly random, yet representative sample is more important. If one already has a large, randomly collected and representative sample, increasing the sample size will not improve the analysis. Our study focuses on how survey topic …show more content…

Survey topics will rotate between control, controversial, and neutral during times of data collection.

Methods

Who: We surveyed Vassar students sitting alone at tables at the Retreat, and Vassar students as they entered and exited the All Campus Dining Center (Deece). We believe that by surveying individuals from the Retreat and the Deece, we achieved a truly random sample with respect to our research question. In other words, we do not think that the choice to eat at the Deece or Retreat directly affects willingness to take a survey.

What: The response rate (Yes/No) to short, anonymous surveys offered on a control, controversial and neutral topic.

Where: The Retreat and Deece. These areas are well trafficked by most of the Vassar student population, and we believe that individuals surveyed here are representative of Vassar’s student body with respect to our research question.

When: November 11 and 12 (between 2PM and 4PM)

Why: We are interested in determining if the survey topic (neutral vs. controversial) affects the number of Vassar students that are willing to participate in that survey.

How: (see methodology for additional information) We went to The Retreat on November 11 for one hour and asked students sitting alone at tables if they wished to participate in a short, anonymous survey. Survey topics for the control (no topic), neutral (milk preference), and controversial (abortion rights) were rotated per student

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