International Handbook of Survey Methodology

Taking into account both traditional and emerging modes, this comprehensive new Handbook covers all major methodological and statistical issues in designing and analyzing surveys. With contributions from the world's leading survey methodologists and statisticians, this invaluable new resource provides guidance on collecting survey data and creating meaningful results. Featuring examples from a variety of countries, the book reviews such things as how to deal with sample designs, write survey questions, and collect data on the Internet. A thorough review of the procedures associated with multiple modes of collecting sample survey information and applying that combination of methods that fit the situation best is included.

The International Handbook of Survey Methodology opens with the foundations of survey design, ranging from sources of error, to ethical issues. This is followed by a section on design that reviews sampling challenges and tips on writing and testing questions for multiple methods. Part three focuses on data collection, from face-to-face interviews, to Internet and interactive voice response, to special challenges involved in mixing these modes within one survey. Analyzing data from both simple and complex surveys is then explored, as well as procedures for adjusting data. The book concludes with a discussion of maintaining quality.

Intended for advanced students and researchers in the behavioral, social, and health sciences, this "must have" resource will appeal to those interested in conducting or using survey data from anywhere in the world, especially those interested in comparing results across countries. The book also serves as a state-of-the-art text for graduate level courses and seminars on survey methodology. A companion website contains additional readings and examples.

Edith D. de Leeuw is a consultant in survey methodology and statistics and senior researcher at the Department of Methodology & Statistics at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. An Associate Editor of the Journal of Official Statistics and an editorial board member of Sociological Methods and Research and Field Methods, Dr. de Leeuw organizes international conferences on data collection, quality, and survey methodology and statistics.

Joop J. Hox is Professor and Chair of Social Science Methodology at Utrecht University. A Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and a founding member of the European Association of Methodology and its executive board, his recent publications focus on survey non-response, interviewer effects, survey data quality, missing data, and multilevel analysis of regression and structural equation models.

Don A. Dillman is Regents Professor and the Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy at Washington State University. A former Senior Survey Methodologist at the U.S. Census Bureau, Dr. Dilman served as president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and received that association’s award for exceptional professional achievement in 2003.