Assessing Awareness of Water Quality: Comparing Convenience and Random Samples

Authors

Linda Stalker Prokopy, Purdue UniversityFollow
Alicia Molloy, Purdue UniversityFollow
Aaron Thompson, Purdue UniversityFollow
Don Emmert, Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictFollow

Volume

48

Issue

3

DOI

10.34068/joe.48.03.02

Abstract

It is increasingly recognized that knowledge of the target audience can strengthen education and outreach programs. The study described here explores whether the method of collecting data from a target audience influences results. Using data for the same questions collected at a county fair, through the Internet, in a mail survey, and in a phone survey, our findings indicate that data collected through convenience surveys are not representative of the larger population. An implication of this finding is that organizations conducting surveys need to clearly define their goals for the survey data before choosing a method of survey delivery.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Prokopy, L. S., Molloy, A., Thompson, A., & Emmert, D. (2010). Assessing Awareness of Water Quality: Comparing Convenience and Random Samples. The Journal of Extension, 48(3), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.48.03.02