MAY 16, 2001

A rigorous framework for the assessment of survey research

Circum Network and its president have been involved several times in situations where two or more studies using survey research were opposed. The most litigious instances are those which take place in the legal context or which involve quasi-judicial bodies. Examples of such circumstances can be found in the research conducted for the Canadian Private Copying Collective. Put in a position to defend its research and to provide an assessment of strengths and weaknesses of other studies brought in front ot the court, Mr Benoît Gauthier developed a general and rigorous framework for the assessment of survey research. The model is based on the six components of survey research (questionnaire, sampling, data collection, data management, data analysis and reporting) and on four fundamental quality principles (rigour, neutrality, balance and transparency). Once cross-classified, these two dimensions create 24 combinations which allow the development of quality criteria for this type of research.

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