Survey: Meaning and Defintion

SURVEY

Meaning

The term survey is the combination of two words, namely ‘Sur’ or ‘Ser’ and Veeir’ or ‘Vor’, meaning ‘Over’ and ‘to see’ respectively. Thus, the term survey implies ‘to oversee’ or ‘to look over’. A survey is a ‘fact-finding’ study. It is a research method that involves collecting data directly from a population or a sample thereof at a given point in time. It must not be confused with the mere clerical routine of gathering and tabulating figures. It requires expert and imaginative planning, careful analysis and rational interpretation of the findings. Data may be collected by observation, interviewing, or mailing questionnaires. Data analysis may be conducted using simple or complex statistical techniques, depending on the study's objectives.

Definition

1. According to P.V. Young, “In general we may observe that social surveys are concerned with (i) the formulation of constructive programmes of reform and (ii) amelioration of current or immediate conditions of a social pathological nature which have definite geographical limits and definite social implications and significance, (iii) these conditions can be measured and compared with situations which can be accepted as model.” 

2. E.W. Burgess considers social survey as “the scientific study of community conditions and needs for the purpose of presenting a constructive programme of social advance... a method of social introspection checked by statistical measurement and the comparative standards of the social expert.” 

3. In the words of Mark Abrams, “A social survey is a process by which quantitative facts are collected about social aspects of a community’s composition and activities.” 

4. According to Shelly M. Harrison, “Social survey is a cooperative undertaking which applies scientific method to the study and treatment of current related social problems and conditions having definite geographical limits and bearings plus such a spreading of its facts, conclusions and recommendations as will make them as far as possible the common knowledge of the community and a force for intelligent coordinated action.”

An analysis of the above definitions of social survey reveals that P.V. Young has clearly delimited the area of survey to a definite geographical locality. She has also held that social surveys address specific social problems and conditions. Similarly, Burgess’s definition emphasises the constructive and progressive purpose of social survey. It is well known that the implicit or explicit purpose of all social surveys is social progress and the betterment of a community, as conditions and causes suited to such a transformation are identified. Briefly, all the foregoing definitions consider social survey as the investigation of social problems, conditions, structures, processes, etc., to bring about positive change based on collected facts.