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Using the Internet for Survey Research

Author

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  • R. Coomber

Abstract

The Internet and electronic mail increasingly offer the research community opportunities that it did not previously have. Access to information has increased as has access to and discussion with those working in similar areas. One other aspect of ‘cyberspace’ which presents enormous possibilities to the research community, currently in its infancy, is the use of the Internet to reach individuals as research subjects. In particular, there may be significant research benefits to be gleaned where the group being researched is normally difficult to reach and/or the issues being researched are of a particularly sensitive nature. This paper outlines some recent survey research using the Internet as the interface between researcher and researched. The target group, illicit ‘drug dealers’, are difficult to access under normal conditions and contacting a spread of such individuals across international borders was previously prohibitive. A discussion of sampling issues is undertaken which concludes that the Internet can be a valuable source of indicative as opposed to easily generalizable data. A practical guide to undertaking research via the Internet is also included.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Coomber, 1997. "Using the Internet for Survey Research," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 2(2), pages 49-58, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:2:y:1997:i:2:p:49-58
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.73
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Henrietta O'Connor & Clare Madge, 2004. "‘Cyber-Mothers: Online Synchronous Interviewing using Conferencing Software’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 9(2), pages 136-152, May.
    2. Eboli, Laura & Mazzulla, Gabriella, 2011. "Transit Passenger Perceptions: Face‐to‐Face Versus Web‐Based Survey," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 50(1).
    3. Diane Kholos Wysocki, 1998. "But Women Can't Have ‘Hemophilia’!: A Look at the Lives of Women with Bleeding Disorder," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 3(4), pages 14-25, December.
    4. Piergiorgio Degli Esposti & Ariela Mortara & Geraldina Roberti, 2021. "Sharing and Sustainable Consumption in the Era of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Walczuch, R.M. & Hofmaier, K., 2000. "Measuring customer satisfaction on the Internet," Research Memorandum 051, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    6. Willem, A. & Devos, A. & Buelens, M., 2006. "Differences between private and public sector employees’ psychological contracts," Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Working Paper Series 2007-2, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.
    7. N/A, 2004. "Christine Hine (2004) ‘Social Research Methods and the Internet: A Thematic Review’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 9(2), pages 110-116, May.
    8. Valeria Lo Iacono & Paul Symonds & David H.K. Brown, 2016. "Skype as a Tool for Qualitative Research Interviews," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 21(2), pages 103-117, May.
    9. Walczuch R & Hofmaier K, 2000. "Measuring Customer Satisfaction on the Internet," Research Memorandum 019, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    10. Henrietta O'Connor & Clare Madge, 2001. "Cyber-Mothers: Online Synchronous Interviewing using Conferencing Software," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 5(4), pages 102-117, February.
    11. Nicola Illingworth, 2006. "Content, Context, Reflexivity and the Qualitative Research Encounter: Telling Stories in the Virtual Realm," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 11(1), pages 62-73, April.
    12. Peter Chen & S.M. Hinton, 1999. "Realtime Interviewing Using the World Wide Web," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 4(3), pages 63-81, September.
    13. Martine Selm & Nicholas Jankowski, 2006. "Conducting Online Surveys," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 435-456, June.
    14. Nicola Illingworth, 2001. "The Internet Matters: Exploring the Use of the Internet as a Research Tool," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 6(2), pages 79-90, August.
    15. Shih-Yen Huang, 2015. "Video Commercial Image Preference Study Through The Web Analytical Tool," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 6(3), pages 71-85, October.

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