SURVEY of Hybrid Drivers

I think they're trying to show how super “fiscial†we hybrid drivers are.

Your choice:
a) Superficial
B) Super fiscal

Time for a power nap there doc? :wink:

 

CMUsurvey,

Why not let us know what you are trying to research? What is your research goal or what are you trying to learn about the hybrid drivers?

 

If they let you know the “goal†of the survey, you just may “help†them reach that goal . . . thereby tainting the survey.

 

Not necessarily. If I tell you that I'm asking questions of hybrid drivers based upon their experience of the initial quality of the vehicle (that would be what JD Power does) that is what the survey taker believes. They go into that survey thinking they will be answering questions about vehicle quality.

There will be a set of questions, usually including demographic questions, that may or may not be entirely related to initial vehicle quality. The vast majority of the questions might be about quality, fit and finish and other new vehicle characteristics, but other questions will be in the survey which may not have anything to do with initial quality measures, but with other issues regarding the vehicle, such as options wanted but not purchased or offered.

Data about the respondent can also be extrapolated. The survey might ask where the dealer was located or what zip code your selling dealer lives in and the survey might ask for your mailing address or just the zip code. The researcher immediately knows the general location of the dealer and buyer and can tell if the vehicle was purchased locally or out of town. Although you were not directly asked if you purchased from an out of town dealer or local dealer, the researcher knows based upon two questions that are seemingly unrelated if you purchased out of town or locally.

Some of the questions in a survey might be about personal interests, again to further classify a consumer, but to also get a picture of the personality and lifestyle of the buyer. Good surveys intersperse these questions in between topical questions, both to give some mental relief to the respondent, especially during a long survey, and to get a deeper picture of the respondent.

Most surveys, especially those developed by the major survey organizations don't just survey you on the topic they have indicated, but also survey you on other items not related to their declared topic even though you may not notice questions that lead away from the declared topic of interest.

If you have ever taken a survey in which some questions seem redundant or you are asked questions in two or 3 different ways that is a way of validating data. If a survey taker is trying to skew the survey, this redundancy usually will trip them up, they will not answer the redundant but different questions the same, so they will show up as either confused or spoofing. However, an honest, and not confused, respondent will not cause this redundant questioning to show confusion or spoofing because their answers will be consistent across questioning formats and verbiage.

And last, but not least; any survey can be skewed. There are usually statistical tests done by researchers after a survey is completed to determine if the results can be trusted or not. There is always some amount of error in a survey related to people trying to skew the results. However, a properly constructed survey will reduce the chances of skewing through good question development. It doesn't matter what I know about their research goals, if the survey is well designed I will either be forced to answer honestly, or be singled out as a spoofer and the spoofed survey will be eliminated.

 

To me it looks like this survey is possibly geared to determine the impact hybrid drivers are having on air pollution. They ask you what you drive now and what you drove before, and if the amount you drive has increased or decreased since you got your hybrid. In my opinion all the questions help to answer this one larger question.

Justin

 

Carnegie Mellon , huh? That's a smart group of kids.

One of the engineers on my team went to Carnegie Mellon. He's pretty sharp, and his undergrad degree was in SCULPTURE! Sheeze... Imagine if it had been in engineering!

 

Thanks for the update... I'd like to see the results as well.

 

So much for giving my $.02 :idea:

Survey is officially CLOSED

 

Hello, CMU survey!

I'm a CMU Alum. I can understand not revealing the intent to keep from tainting the results. But how about posting the findings back here?

Thanks!
Gary Aulfinger
BS CIT MechE '88
MS Heinz School '94