Innovations in Survey Research: An Application of Web-Based Surveys

The rapid expansion of Internet users has given Web-based surveys the potential to become a powerful tool in survey research. As an application of this technique for gathering data, the International Student Survey was designed to explore factors that might influence choices of college majors and the social support network system among international students at Arizona State University. Cover letters with the links to a Web-based questionnaire were sent through e-mail to the entire international students population. Given that no incentive was offered, this study received a total of 929 completed surveys for an overall response rate of 22% after three waves of solicitations. This article discusses the methodological concerns and problems that arise from using Web surveys, including noncoverage, nonresponse errors, confidentiality concerns, and technical problems. Suggestions for improving response rates also are discussed

Internet survey research: Practices, problems, and prospects

ABSTRACT The Internet has a number of features that are attractive for marketing research surveys including low cost, fast response time, and access to any location. This paper presents a review and assessment of the use of e-mail survey and Web-site survey research methodology and examines their potential and problems. To date, there have been few studies of these data collection approaches. Most studies have found some serious problems or shortcomings with the methods. This paper discusses the methods and concludes with recommendations about the short-term prospects for the use of e-mail and Web-site surveys in marketing research. The Internet has become our national showplace for the display of extraordinary statistics, amazing accomplishments, and incredible growth rates. Most of the hyperbole is well deserved and we can reasonably expect the Internet to continue to work its way into all aspects of public life and private enterprise. The changes brought about by the Internet have been particularly evident in areas that are information-intensive and relationship-based such as marketing. There may be no more natural alliance than between the ease of communication offered by the Internet and the commercial need for a steady stream of data about the fragmented marketplace and difficult to reach market segments

The Our Florida Reefs Coastal Use Survey: An Online Survey to Support Stakeholder Management Recommendations for Southeast Florida

Coral reefs are an important resource world-wide. Unfortunately, coral reef conditions are declining in many areas due to both global and local stressors. The objective of this study was to survey stakeholders in southeast Florida to better understand reef use in the region. Stakeholders spatially identified where and how often they conducted their activities. These data were compiled and analyzed in GIS to determine spatial use patterns. Both location and intensity of use were analyzed to determine which areas may be under greater stress from recreational activities. It was found that reef use was not evenly distributed in the region but clustered around inlets and piers. Reef use differed between user groups (i.e. SCUBA divers, fishers) and demographics. It was also found that use in the Broward-Miami Coral Reef Ecosystem Region was spread out over a wider spatial scale than the use in the regions north and south.. These data are important as they have the potential to inform the recommendations being made to improve coral reef management in southeast Florida. The study can provide a better understanding of human-environmental relationships and the trade-offs involved so that recommendations can better decrease user conflicts, maximize economic productivity, and preserve the environment

Perceptions of illicit drugs and drug users: myth-understandings and policy consequences

This submission to the University of Greenwich for a Ph.D. by published works is composed of ten peer-reviewed articles, five book chapters, and one journal editorial. The earliest publication is dated from 1992 while the two most recent articles have been formally accepted for publication and are to be published in the near future. The pieces, to aid coherence, are not arranged in strict chronological order but rather in an order best able to demonstrate coherence and theme. The central theme running through these published works relates to the ways that drugs, drug users, and the activities which surround them are often subject to exaggeration, distortion and untruths and that drug control policy, rather than being rationally based is often the result of fear, prejudice and unreason. The core of the submission, eight papers researching the dangerous adulteration of illicit drugs, reflects these issues strongly. An area almost untouched by social science prior to this research these papers represent an attempt to pull together a range of evidence to inform more fully about drug adulteration practices. A wide range of methods, including a relatively innovative approach to researching hard to reach groups via the Internet and World Wide Web were employed. Almost all of the findings are at odds with what is commonly and professionally (drugs field) assumed to happen as regards the adulteration/dilution of illicit drugs. The other contributions all reflect similar concerns but are focussed on other drug related areas. Each piece is preceded by a short contextualising introduction. The appendices include a complimentary unpublished paper on drug adulteration, the preface to one of two books to which I was sole editor, some shorter contributions to drug field publications which, whilst widely read are less academic in their tone and approach, and two publications which represent the culmination of earlier joint research on drug policy

Learning from e-family history: online research behaviour and strategies of family historians and implications for local studies collections.

The massive expansion of electronic resources has been identified as one of the major drivers behind the explosion in the popularity of family history, which bring ease, convenience and accessibility to some parts of the research process. Amongst this expanse of easily-accessible raw materials, online local studies materials (recording both historical and contemporary aspects of a community) can add real context and value to researchers findings and experience; turning a genealogy into a family history. However, the vast majority of these do not appear visible to online family history researchers. Through three central foci (users, e-family history resources, and Local Studies Collections), this research investigates these resources and collections from the perspective of users, to establish how to make the added value of the local studies collections more visible and encourage increased engagement for those who cannot visit collections in person. Specific evaluative criteria for e-family history resources are presented, contributing to practitioners awareness and understanding of their nature; in turn helping maintain their service quality to researchers. Using a hybrid (primarily ethnographic) research approach, the study also examines the online research behaviour of family historians, identifying a taxonomy of actions (seeking of genealogical facts, local or social history; communicating with other researchers or resources; locating resources or instructive information; managing own information), strategies (search modifications and incorporation of background knowledge) and outcomes (outcome; direction (projected and actual)). From these categories, a model of Family Historians online information seeking has been developed. Researchers have both informational and affective needs, and are highly emotionally attached to the research process. Users universally used Ancestry, FamilySearch, ScotlandsPeople, and Genes Reunited far more than other sites, seeking out quality informational content and unique records, which must be successful for researchers. Google was a major method of access to these. Very few participants were pre-aware of e-local studies websites, and were surprised by the variations in quality, inconsistencies in terminology and navigation, and invisibility of quality content. Despite a lack of ease of use, the content present on e-local studies sites and their usefulness and value had been demonstrated to researchers. This suggests significant demand for local information of this kind online where it is available and made known

Voice and e-quality: The state of electronic democracy in Britain.

This dissertation is broadly concerned with the issue of electronic democracy, i.e. whether, under what conditions and how does the Internet strengthen democracy in advanced industrial polities. Specifically, this work applies the theory of participation to recent British data on online political engagement in order to understand: whether and how the Internet modifies the existing structure of political inequality; whether and how the Internet alters the context of traditional political action; whether the Internet holds a democratising potential and what is its nature. Data collected and analysed include a survey of British citizens' online political behaviour, and three smaller, in-depth surveys of citizens' online political activities within limited settings: a national online consultation forum, routine politics by young party activists and charity work by an elderly activist network. More generally, the dissertation contributes towards clarifying the ongoing debate on electronic democracy, by examining the discourse surrounding the evolution of the issue. It reviews a large portion of the existing literature on online political engagement, organised in three main approaches. It presents and analyses seminal data on British online political engagement to assess the state of electronic democracy in Britain. Importantly, it advances a theoretical framework for the understanding of the 'real' digital divide, drawing on the theory of participation. The theory is an ideal explanatory base from which to depart in order to find the factors shaping the structure of online political opportunities and the way in which preferences are voiced, and heard, through the Internet. This dissertation speaks directly to the electronic democracy debate by setting the agenda on the notion of democratic equality and by focusing on the structure of voice in the information polity

Thermal efficient dwelling design, Bali, Indonesia

In the warm humid tropical climate of Bali, Indonesia, overheating and high humidity influence occupants' comfort, indoor climate and the comfort of their homes, both directly and indirectly. The traditional way to deal with these problems, using natural ventilation, was ecologically sound and acceptable. However, development of tourism in Bali has had a positive impact on people's earning, causing cultural pressure, migration and a rapid rise in the urban population, as well as increasing housing demand. In urban areas, the methods of climate modification have moved away from natural ventilation, and comfort is now more often achieved by installing air conditioning. This has caused increasing energy use and had economic impact. As world-wide energy consumption will continue to increase, the use of more energy will have more impact on global warming. In these circumstances, energy efficiency is paramount, particularly in the dwelling designs for new housing development in Indonesia. The study focuses on the design of a thermally comfortable dwelling in the warm humid climate of Bali, Indonesia, with emphasis on the energy efficiency of the naturally ventilated and air-conditioned dwelling. Using a computer program and energy conservation strategies, a dwelling design was simulated. A model dwelling was adopted from a standard house type for people on a middle class income, based on the family size of a couple with two children. Such units are built by the National Housing Authority of Indonesia. A comprehensive study of the computer-simulation outcomes, survey research, previous works undertaken and literature reviews were carried out, to develop a thermally comfortable dwelling design. This new thermally efficient dwelling design was simulated to draw the final conclusions of the research. The research discovered that the combination of both natural ventilation and air conditioning, integrated with the combined design of a compound-compact dwelling, are an intelligent response to the thermal comfort performance problems of a dwelling in the warm humid climate and architecturally adaptable to the culture of Bali. The study found that a combination of natural ventilation with air conditioning which is only used when necessary, coupled with insulation and shading devices, can significantly reduce energy consumption and achieve adequate thermal comfort. In this respect, however, architectural design should come first, and be considered before an engineering solution. The reasons are that architectural solutions are more robust, and has a long duration of applicability, while the technology is perhaps the opposite, being prone to mechanical failure. When a less compact dwelling is designed, increased use of natural ventilation can be achieved. The use of airtight construction, insulation in the building envelope and shading devices are effective ways of reducing the air-conditioning load.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceEngineering Education Development Project (EEDP) of IndonesiaGBUnited Kingdo

The information-seeking behaviour of distance learners: a case study of the university of London International programmes

Understanding the information-seeking behaviour of distance learners will lead to better-designed distance learning libraries that effectively support the information and learning needs of distance learners. It will also inform a debate on how national guidelines for distance learning library provision in the UK might be formulated. This study explores the information-seeking behaviour of distance learners registered with the International Programmes of the University of London, which is the second largest distance learning provider in the UK. The population includes both postgraduate and undergraduate students registered on six different social sciences and humanities programmes. All participants were registered library users. The study discusses possible influencing factors and barriers that distance learning students may encounter while seeking, accessing and, to some extent, using information needed to complete their university studies. The kind of information activities that students engage in, the kind of information sources they use including those not provided by the library, the reasons why they use them, the challenges they face and the strategies they adopt to overcome these challenges are all explored. The study methodology comprised preparatory desk research including a thorough literature review in the areas of Information-Seeking Behaviour, including existing models, and an assessment of existing distance library provision in the UK. The research uses a combination of quantitative (questionnaires both online and by post) and qualitative (laboratory-based observational study using think-aloud protocol) methods and one-to-one interviews using open-ended semi-structured questions. Statistical analysis using the chi-square test for independence revealed that the significant factors which influenced distance learners' information-seeking behaviour first of all directly relate to the learner him or herself, the individual context in which they work and the barriers that stem from that specific context, such as those imposed by time, distance and instructional approaches (pedagogy) as well as ease of access to required information sources. These are the variables that Wilson (1999) calls 'person-in-context' and 'intervening variables'. They include demographic, role-related / interpersonal, psychological, environmental and logistical variables as well as sources and their characteristics, the student's social networks and the student's information literacy skills. This leads to the construction and proposition of a new model of information-seeking behaviour that directly relates to distance learners. The study makes a series of recommendations for supporting the library and information needs of distance learners in the electronic age effectively. They include the following: the role of electronic provision; design for ease of access and ease of use; the need for access to physical libraries; the need for technical support; the need for student support in the broadest sense; the responsibility of the institution for full provision of information resources and for the provision of information literacy skills; the design of distance learning programmes with integral information design rather than merely a translation of on-campus programmes; the need for a communications strategy; and the role of the institution in education literacy skills for a better understanding and appreciation of the purpose of study