Managing the Survey
Christensen Associates provides a wide range of survey management support, including:
- management of sample
- production of survey materials (including, as appropriate, hard-copy survey booklets, telephone interview scripts, and online surveys)
- tracking of survey responses
- follow-ups with non-respondents
- management of incentives
- preparation of an electronic data file.
During the survey implementation period, Christensen Associates can maintain a dedicated telephone “help line” to assist respondents with the resolution of any survey-related issues. Data entry for online and telephone surveys is typically accomplished via computer programs at the time respondents answer the survey questions. For hard-copy surveys, Christensen Associates enters data using data entry forms that perform validity checks on each answer as it is being entered. These procedures ensure the production of a high quality dataset.
Our online surveys are conducted using the Christensen Associates Online Survey Software, a fully developed, 3-tiered Active Server Pages (ASP) website built in the framework of Microsoft Distributed Internet Applications (DNA). This framework gives us the flexibility and scalability we require for large-scale web site hosting. Question pages are built from HTML templates that we design ourselves, so any question format can be supported. Also, the template-based design means survey web pages can be developed quickly, allowing us to concentrate our efforts on question content.
This simplicity of the HTML design masks the complex capabilities of our survey backend. Survey responses are transmitted directly to a database as each question is answered. Our software allows us to return users to the first question they have not answered should they be interrupted on their first attempt. In addition, we back up our survey databases with automated software at appropriate intervals. All database access is transactional in nature, meaning that no matter how many users attempt to write data at the same time, no data will be lost.
Two examples of our online survey capabilities are available for your review. One is a “simple” survey focusing on energy pricing trends, and the other is a choice-based conjoint survey on health insurance plan selection.
For more information, contact Dan Hansen.
©2007 Laurits R. Christensen Associates