Economics · Ch 2 — Collection of Data
Pilot Survey
2.3.3
Pilot Survey
Before running the full survey it is advisable to try the questionnaire on a small group first. This trial is called a Pilot Survey or pre-testing of the questionnaire.
The pilot survey gives a preliminary idea of how the survey will work and reveals the shortcomings and drawbacks of the questions. It helps assess the suitability of the questions, the clarity of the instructions, the performance of the enumerators, and the cost and time the actual survey will involve — so that flaws can be corrected before the real, larger and more expensive enquiry begins.
Think About It
Activities
- You have to collect information from a person who lives in a remote village of India. Which mode of data collection will be appropriate and why? Discuss. …
Table mode-comparison-tableAdvantages and Disadvantages of Personal, Mailed and Telephonic Interviews
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Interview | Highest Response Rate; allows use of all types of questions; better for using open-ended questions; allows clarification of ambiguous questions | Most expensive; possibility of influencing respondents; more time-taking |
| Mailed Interview | Least expensive; only method to reach remote areas; no influence on respondents; maintains anonymity of respondents; best for sensitive questions | Cannot be used by illiterates; long response time; does not allow explanation of unambiguous questions; reactions cannot be watched |