How to conduct a survey for academic dissertation?

One can argue that conducting a survey is the most challenging part of writing a dissertation. Unlike other parts of the writing process that one can manage in a controlled environment, collecting data through a survey will have you try to convince most likely strangers, who have no obligations towards you, to not only participate in your study but also provide accurate information. Although trying to get a high participation rate may seem like an impossible task, here are a few steps you can take to make it possible.

So you would not end up in a goose chase, make sure that you are extracting the data you need from the right audience. By identifying your target, you will be able to know when and how to approach along with other information that will help you collect valuable data for your survey. Knowing who will be the right participant in your survey will help you save the time and the energy that you might need to complete other tasks relating to your dissertation.

Once you determine who your participants are, start designing your survey. Just like any other type of research, make sure that your survey will grab the attention of your target audience and keep them answering to the end. Ensure that the questions and answers are clear and concise so that the respondents will lose interest midway and decide to discontinue.

With the world becoming more digital every day, making your survey mobile would be the obvious choice. Use mobile technology to gain access to almost half of the human population and increase your chances of getting the respondents you need. However, if you are not sure that people will respond to your invitations through social media, you can always grab your mobile device and walk around populated areas of campus and convince people to participate. Take a charismatic friend with you to get access to as many people as possible and incentivize the survey to make the time they will spend answering worthwhile. Just make sure to optimize the survey for mobile devices so the entire process will go smoothly.

Since everyone today is on social media, probably even your own grandparents, this could also be a good way to let your survey known. Share the link to your study on the university’s Facebook group, on Twitter or on the university’s forum or discord if one is available. This way, the survey will get maximum exposure, and maybe those who did not stop to participate when you were passing your mobile device on campus will now take the time to do so.