Name: Marcin Krynski
Module: LIPC1130_2021_503 English for Academic Purposes
Word Count: 543
Date: 23.04.2021
The survey conducted by Danish Gunther Eysenbach (2007) found that the online survey received a 6% higher response rate than its classic paper counterpart. The sudden systematic development of the Internet has an impact on every area of our lives, research methodology follows this trend. I completely agree with the thesis that online surveys are an effective form of gathering data from the target group. Moreover, online surveys seem to outclass the paper ones, offering possibilities that are not possible on a paper medium.
Hypothesis that online surveys can significantly compete and even outclass their paper counterparts. Although pencil surveys probably always will stay as an emergency solution according to Carlos Mendes (2018). In this essay, I will mainly consider the workload that the researcher spends on preparing the survey and the potential benefits. Arguments such as conversion from a survey, calculated by the respondent’s response rate, are paramount. Time and costs are overall factors that need to considerate in quantitative researches. (Kenny, cited in Eysenbach 2007) & (Burdock, cited in Eysenbach 2007) in their works find the same conclusion that online surveys are characterized by a significantly lower cost of obtaining respondents’ answers than their paper versions. (Barker, cited in McDonald 2015) stated that the use of online surveys in large-scale quantitative research is an alternative. However, he pointed out that it is worth securing research using two simultaneously available methods, giving the respondents a choice of suitable forms. Also (Burdock, cited in Eysenbach 2007), pointed to the rightness of choosing online surveys as those that reduce the cost of conducted research. Time act a critical role in many studies. Three scientists; Mendes (2018) & McDonald, & Richardson (2015), agree that online surveys are ahead of paper surveys when it comes to getting respondents’ answers. Surveys published via a link sent by e-mail or published on social networking sites receive immediate results. Speed, flexibility, and accessibility of online surveys is certainly their greatest advantage. There are many more positives Mendes (2018), articulated that immediate and pre-analyzed results obtained in real-time, obtained thanks to specialized software, make online surveys superior to paper surveys. Considering the issue of environmental protection. Physically printed questionnaires are costly and an environmental burden compared to non-physical forms. In addition, not all participants will complete paper questionnaires printing materials are prone to supply waste before they reach the target audience. In this case both documents and interviewer effort are pointless. Mendes (2018) pointed out that online surveys are characterized by an unlimited amount of space, which is particularly important in the case of open questions in which the respondent would like to answer the questions in detail and comprehensively.
Summarizing all of the provided pieces of evidence reveal that online questionnaires are more effective then their paper protoplasts. Online questionnaires are flexible and allow the inclusion of interactive content such as audiovisual material. Adaptability in online surveys is limited only by the imagination of their creators. Interactive online content is more engaging to respondents. The more engaging the content of the survey, the greater the chance of encouraging the participant to complete the survey and receive valuable data for analysis. Bind all of those arguments lead to the conclusion that online questionaries have significantly higher efficiency compared to paper ones.