New Developments in Survey Data Collection

The field of survey research is experiencing a period of great uncertainty and flux. While this chapter is not about the reasons behind the crisis, the current situation serves as backdrop to the rapid changes that have occurred within survey research in the past decade or two. This paper begins with a brief overview of some of the challenges facing the profession before reviewing several major developments in survey research, particularly in the modes of data collection and in the technologies used to collect survey data. The paper concludes with some observations about the future of survey research. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Sociology Volume 43 is July 30, 2017. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.; The field of survey research is experiencing a period of great uncertainty and flux. While this chapter is not about the reasons behind the crisis, the current situation serves as backdrop to the rapid changes that have occurred within survey research in the past decade or two. This paper begins with a brief overview of some of the challenges facing the profession before reviewing several major developments in survey research, particularly in the modes of data collection and in the technologies used to collect survey data. The paper concludes with some observations about the future of survey research. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Sociology Volume 43 is July 30, 2017. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.