Survey Methods, Interviews, and Family Structures

Posted on Feb 11, 2025 in Psychology and Sociology

Survey Methods: A Comprehensive Look

According to survey methodology, a survey area can be exhaustive (covering all statistical units within a population) or partial. Data obtained can be direct (where the statistical unit is the primary source) or indirect (where data does not directly correspond to the target).

Content Types in Surveys

Based on content, surveys can gather:

  • Opinions: What people think about a hypothesis.
  • Facts: Events that have occurred.

Questions can be posed to individuals or groups (oral lists). Responses can be classified as closed (multiple-choice) or open (free-form).

Survey Content Categories

Survey contents include:

  • Identification of Facts: Referring to specific events.
  • Action (DLS): Activities of respondents.
  • Information: Knowledge of the respondents.
  • Intention: The respondent’s planned actions.
  • Opinion: The respondent’s views.
Survey Question Classification

Survey questions can be classified by function:

  • Filter: Eliminating irrelevant responses.
  • Trap/Control: Verifying the respondent’s intention.
  • Introduction/Breaker: Starting the survey.
  • Mattress: Addressing sensitive topics.
  • Drums: Linked questions.
  • Funnel: Starting with general issues and narrowing to critical points.

Interview Techniques and Types

An interview is a dialogue between two people. Types include:

  • Objective View of News: Gathering information from the interviewee.
  • Personality: Focusing on the interviewee’s character.

Interview Channels and Respondent Numbers

Channels can be:

  • In-Person: Most effective.
  • Telephone.
  • Guest: Scheduled interviews.

The number of respondents can be individual, group, or collective.

Formal vs. Informal Interviews

  • Formal/Structured: Based on a prepared form.
  • Unstructured.
  • Focused: Requires experience and tact, addressing a problem without a formal structure.
  • Non-Addressed: Allowing freedom of expression.
Conducting an Effective Interview
  1. Select the topic and information.
  2. Design a questionnaire.
  3. Schedule an appointment.
  4. Choose the channel.
  5. Prepare advice for the interviewer.
  6. Ask questions cordially.
  7. Record responses thoughtfully.

Always maintain interest in the interviewee’s responses. Do not leave the interviewee with unanswered questions. The interviewer should remain impartial.

Social Systems and Family Structures

Conflict: A temporary imbalance in a social system, causing dissent, which may be internal or external, intending to establish a new balance.

The Family Unit

Family: A group of people linked by kinship, with adult members responsible for the care of children.

Marriage and Family Types

  • Marriage: A socially recognized and accepted sexual union between two individuals.
  • Nuclear Family: Two adults and their children.
  • Monogamy: One man or woman married to one individual at a time.
  • Polygamy: One man or woman married to multiple partners.
Changes in Family Models Worldwide
  • Women’s rights are increasingly recognized.
  • Arranged marriages are less frequent.
  • Children’s rights are expanding.
Western World Characteristics
  • Consecutive monogamy.
  • Romantic love.
  • Affective individualism.
  • Neolocal residence.