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Define a mail survey and identify its primary financial advantage alongside its main methodological disadvantage regarding data quality.
Question: Define a mail survey and identify its primary financial advantage alongside its main methodological disadvantage regarding data quality.
Sample answer: A mail survey is an administration mode where paper questionnaires are sent to participants through the postal system. Its primary financial advantage is that it is the least expensive option. However, its main methodological disadvantage is that it typically suffers from the lowest response rates, making the resulting data highly vulnerable to non-response bias.
Key points:
- A mail survey involves sending paper questionnaires to participants through the postal system.
- It is the least expensive option for survey administration.
- It typically suffers from the lowest response rates.
- The resulting data is highly vulnerable to non-response bias.
Rubric: A full credit answer must correctly state the definition of the survey method, note its low cost, mention its characteristic low response rate, and explicitly name non-response bias.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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