1.2 Using Surveys

Surveys can be used to gather information from people, such as their:

•  opinions

•  likes and dislikes

•  purchasing patterns

•  life styles.

The first step when planning a survey is to decide exactly what you need to find out. Next, you must devise a set of unambiguous questions to ask people. Finally, you must decide which people to ask and how. You will need to ask each person the same set of questions.

You will learn how to design questionnaires that:

•  collect all the data you need

•  do not influence the responses that people give

•  record the data in a format that is easy to analyse

•  are easy to complete.

Before you send out a questionnaire you must check that it is fit for purpose by trying it out on test users.

You will use spreadsheet software to design and build spreadsheets to collate and analyse data from surveys. You will learn how to:

• collate the data in a spreadsheet

• use formulae and functions to analyse the data

• test your spreadsheets for functionality

• interpret the information provided by the spreadsheet

• select and present information clearly.