Using Internet Surveys in Cross-National Research |
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| Coordinator 1 | Dr Tom W Smith (NORC at the University of Chicago) |
Pushed by the rising costs of traditional modes (face-to-face, telephone) and the COVID pandemic, there is ever increasing use of internet-based surveys in both national and cross-national research. The use internationally is especially challenging given the varying levels of internet availability, the different levels of familiarity with doing surveys on-line, and the various sample frames that can be employed for drawing internet samples across countries. This session will examine the use of internet surveys cross-nationally and consider such issues as 1) how can cross-national comparability be maximized, 2) the use of one-time internet surveys vs. employing internet panels, 3) the comparability of internet surveys to surveys using other modes and in particular the reliable measurement of trends over time when traditional modes are replaced by internet modes, and 4) the variation that occurs due to the devices used to access the internet and complete surveys (e.g. smartphone vs. lap/desktops). Research will draw on the European Social Survey, the International Social Survey Program, and other cross-national studies.