The conduct of a survey is not an informal procedure. Rather, it should follow a series of logical, interconnected steps which progress toward the final end-product of the survey. The stages in a typical sample survey are shown below, and the issues to be addressed within each of these stages are then outlined.
A. Preliminary Planning
(i) Overall
Study Objectives
(ii) Specific
Survey Objectives
(iii) Review of
Existing Information
(iv) Formation of
Hypotheses
(v) Definition of
Terms
(vi) Determination
of Survey Resources
(vii) Specification
of Survey Content
B. Selection of Survey Method
(i) Selection of
Survey Time Frame
(ii) Selection of
Survey Technique
(iii) Consideration
of Survey Errors
C. Sample Design
(i) Definition
of Target Population
(ii) Sampling
Units
(iii) Sampling
Frame
(iv) Sampling
Method
(v) Sampling
Error and Sampling Bias
(vi) Sample Size
and Composition
(vii) Estimation of
Parameter Variances
(viii) Conduct of
Sampling
D. Survey Instrument Design
(i) Types of
Survey Instrument
(ii) Question
Content
(iii) Trip
Recording Techniques
(iv) Physical
Nature of Forms
(v) Question
Types
(vi) Question
Format
(vii) Question
Wording
(viii) Question
Ordering
(ix) Question
Instructions
E. Pilot Survey(s)
(i) Adequacy of
Sampling Frame
(ii) Variability
within Survey Population
(iii) Estimation
of Non-Response Rate
(iv) Size of the
Pilot Survey
(v) Suitability
of Survey Method
(vi) Adequacy of
Questionnaire (schedule)
(vii) Efficiency of
Interviewer Training
(viii) Suitability of
Coding, Data Entry, and Editing Procedures
(ix) Suitability
of Analysis Procedures
(x) Cost and
Duration of Surveys(
(xi) Efficiency of
Organisation
F. Administration of the Survey
(i) Procedures for Survey Administration
of:
(ii) Survey Execution and Monitoring
(iii) Quality Control
(iv) The Use of
the Computer in Transport Surveys
G. Data Coding
(i) Selection of
Coding Method
(ii) Preparation
of Code Format
(iii) Development
of Data Entry Programs
(iv) Coder and
Data Entry Training
(v) Coding
Administration
H. Data Editing
(i) Editing of
Field Sheets
(ii) Verification
of Data Entry
(iii) Development
of Editing Computer Programs
(iv) Consistency
and Range Checks
I. Data Weighting and Expansion
(i) Editing
Check Corrections
(ii) Secondary
Data Comparisons
(iii) Corrections
for Internal Biases
J. Data Analysis and Management
(i) Exploratory
Data Analysis
(ii) Model
Building
(iii) Interpretation
of Results
(iv) Database Management
(v) Provision of
Data Support Services
K. Presentation of Results
(i) Verbal
Presentations
(ii) Visual
Presentations
(iii) Preparation
of Reports
(iv) Publication
of Results
L. Tidying-Up
(i) Documentation
of Survey Method
(ii) Storage and
Archival of Data
(iii) Completion
of Administrative Duties
TUTI used this diagram, and the checklist of activities, in the design of surveys, in the monitoring of survey progress and in the documentation of the entire survey process.