Methods, Developments, and Technological Innovations for Population Surveys. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomaselli, Venera; Battiato, Sebastiano; Ortis, Alessandro; Cantone, Giulio G.; Urso, Salvatore; Polosa, Riccardo
• Other Names: Dupont Benoit guest-editor.; Holt Thomas guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Social science computer review. Volume 40:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 994
• Page End: 1013
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: CAWI methods -- snowball sampling -- panel management -- gamification -- computer vision -- real-time sensors; Social sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Computers -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Microcomputers -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Micro-ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 300.285
• DOI: 10.1177/0894439321994218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4393

Abstract

This article reviews contemporary issues in survey research, connecting established methods to innovative tools and technologies like real-time sensors and computer vision. This link takes into account the idea about the "organical" nature of Big Data, which represents a challenge toward a modernization of population studies in the light of technological innovations. The adopted dominant paradigm of data gathering is web survey (computer-assisted web interviewing), which is explored through the formalization of chain-referral methods as respondent-driven sampling. The general orientation is toward a computational social science approach. Weaknesses of such methodology is studied and solutions are provided with insights from empirical research on panel management. Contribution from gamification techniques is critically discussed.