An introduction to surveys

A survey is a method of gathering information about a large number of individuals in a population. Surveys can differ in their scale (how many people are questioned), whether the survey occurs once at a single point in time or is repeated again and again, and in the methods used to collect the data. All of these points will be discussed and illustrated in more detail in later study sessions, but it will be easier for you to grasp the details if we first give you a general overview.