Question

Why are surveys sometimes problematic as a data collection method?
1)Because they are expensive and difficult to produce
2)Because they take place over a long period of time and are not useful for pressing issues
3)Because they are based in "self report", which can be inaccurate
4)Because they do not produce an accurate sample of a target population

Answer 1

Surveys can be problematic as a data collection method for several reasons, but the most significant issues among the options provided are:

**3) Because they are based in "self report", which can be inaccurate** - Self-reported data can lead to inaccuracies due to biases such as social desirability bias, recall bias, or misunderstanding of questions. Respondents may not always provide truthful or accurate answers, impacting the reliability of the data.

**4) Because they do not produce an accurate sample of a target population** - Surveys can suffer from sampling bias if the sample does not adequately represent the target population. This can occur if certain groups are more or less likely to respond, leading to skewed results that do not reflect the views or characteristics of the population as a whole.

While options 1 and 2 can also present challenges, they are typically less critical than issues related to self-reporting and representativeness. Overall, the self-report nature and potential sampling bias often highlight the key problems associated with surveys as a data collection method.