Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of different survey formats. In particular, discuss mail questionnaires, telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews and web surveys

What will be an ideal response?

Mail questionnaires - Advantages are easy, inexpensive, cover a wide geographical area, can be done at respondents convenience, anonymity and limit interviewer bias. Disadvantages are low response rate, people who respond are not representative, no control over conditions of completion, limits types of questions.
Telephone - Advantages are can reach about 95% of population by phone, use of random-digit dialing, wide geographical area, short turn-around time, can use probes. Disadvantages are higher cost, limited interview length, respondent is not available by phone, potential interviewer bias Face-to-face - Advantages are highest response rates and longest questionnaires, interviews can observe nonverbal communication, extensive probes. Disadvantages are training, travel supervision and personnel costs of interviews, interviewer bias, limited geographical area. Web survey - Advantages ae lowest cost, quick answers, span geographic areas and include visual media. Disadvantages are that not everyone has computer or internet access, low response rate,

can't control conditions under which the respondent takes the survey.