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E-Mail Surveys

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Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences

Abstract

E-mail survey methodology is a new and rapidly evolving field. This chapter considers and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages related to conducting online surveys identified in previous research. In particular, it describes the methodology and examines some advantages and disadvantages of conducting online survey research. Advantages include access to individuals in distant locations, the ability to reach difficult to contact participants, and the convenience of having automated data collection, which reduces researchers’ time and effort. Disadvantages of online survey research include uncertainty over the validity of the data and sampling issues, and concerns surrounding the design, implementation, and evaluation of an online survey. Future directions of the methodology are discussed.

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Suggested Further Readings

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Gustavo Mesch

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  1. Gustavo Mesch
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Correspondence to Gustavo Mesch .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, Tenth Ave. 899, New York, 10019, New York, USA

    Lior Gideon

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Mesch, G. (2012). E-Mail Surveys. In: Gideon, L. (eds) Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3876-2_18

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