Applied Research Methods Online Survey Example

Below are some example questions that a researcher might want to ask in an online survey. For our purposes, the formatting of response categories is as important as the questions themselves. Each question represents a different feature that HTML has to offer: (1) required text field with predetermined size, (2) non-required text field with words in and trailing box, (3) pull-down menu with response options, (4) radio buttons where only one value can be marked, (5) check boxes where multiple values can be marked and a text field for specifying another response, (6) radio button scale with a value already checked, and (7) a text area with predetermined columns and rows as well as word wrapping. In addition to submitting the survey, values on the web page can be reset.

In Internet Explorer, click on menu View -> Source to see the HTML code, and in Netscape Navigator, click on View -> Page Source to see the HTML code. Note the comments that describe each tag and command in the HTML code. Copy/paste this code into a file and save it on your harddrive as arm-survey.html for modifying and uploading to your directory.

1. What is your full name?

2. What is your andrew userid?
@andrew.cmu.edu

3. In which decade were you born?

4. What is your gender?
Male Female

5. What is your race/ethnicity?
White/Caucasian
Black/African American
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic/Mexican American
Other (Please Specify)

6. How often do you use the Internet?
Never
Every few months
Every few weeks
1-2 days a week
3-5 days a week
About once a day
Several times a day

7. Is there anything else you would like to say about yourself?

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Sara Kiesler.