Assumptions Made In Surveys - Free Sample Assignment Solution

Question: One of the major problems facing the designer of a survey instrument concerns the assumptions made. Research and discuss what are the major "problem assumptions"? How can a designer avoid them? Should he avoid them? Answer: Introduction While designing a survey, more often than note, surveyors end up making assumptions. Usually, assumptions vary according to the type of assumption made. However, the basic types of assumptions include: Unwanted assumptions A good assumption to make is one that has the following characteristics: Either known to be true Reasonable enough to guarantee no further arguments to support it. Misleading assumptions Misleading assumptions include those assumptions which postulate details that are unstated. A good epitome of a misleading survey item includes questions that provide only two answers to a question (Simon, 2011).The problem is that the question limits the outcomes of the survey to only two responses are obtained from such a survey though there may exist cases of more solutions to queries put forward by the questions. There also exist valid reasons that support the existence of more than one solutions to one problem. The provisions of only Unsupported assumptions These category of assumptions are those that presume the existence of a certain given conditions while in real sense, there exist no valid reasons to support their existence (Leedy, Ormrod (2010).A good example of such assumptions include those that involve surveying a given particular group of respondents on the belief that they are the best suitable candidates of the survey. Such biases is based on believes that the group of respondents interviewed possess valuable information related to the survey intentions. Making assumptions may lead to the collection of wrongful data information. It is hence important to collect the actual data in order to get the facts in hand (Mentzer, John Carol, 1997). In order to reduce assumptions, the following should be done: Listening carefully. Taking notes if necessary. Asking questions openly and explaining into details the questions asked. Summarizing what is generally agreed in order to confirm understanding. References Leedy, P.D. Ormrod, J. E. (2010).Practical Research: Planning and Design, Ninth Edition. NYC: Merril. Mentzer, John T., Carol C. B. (1997). Sales Forecasting Management. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications. Simon, M. K. (2011). Dissertation and scholarly research: Recipes for success (2011 Ed.). Seattle, WA, Dissertation Success, LLC