Conducting Mini Surveys in Developing Countries

摘要

The paper provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to conducting mini-surveys in developing countries. It details how to plan surveys, prepare questions, design the questionnaire, select respondents, ask questions, and analyze and present the survey data. A mini-survey may be defined as one which: focuses on a narrowly defined issues; keeps the number of questions small (15-30); employs a small sample size (25-70); typically uses closed rather than open-ended questions; and may employ informal sampling procedures, though the more objective probability sampling is preferred. Such surveys have several advantages. Their use is particularly appropriate when: limited time or resources do not permit or justify the launching of a large sample survey; the purpose of the survey is to develop questions, hypotheses, and propositions for further testing; and some quantitative data are needed to supplement qualitative information.