Abstract
With the development of the Internet in the last two decades, its use in all phases of field survey is growing very quickly. Indeed, it reduces costs while allowing exploration of relatively large files and enables effective use of a variety of research tools. The academic research is more reserved towards developing online surveys. Demands on the quality of data are the main cause; Internet surveys do not meet them and thus do not allow drawing objective conclusion about the populations surveyed. Unqualified use of the Internet may significantly influence data and information obtained from their analysis. The problematic definition of the population that is under investigation may result in a fault of its coverage. Its existence can be shown, for example, on a confrontation of the total and Internet population of the Czech Republic, the total and Internet population of the Czech households, etc. Representation of the population through an online panel may cause bias, depending on how the panel is created. A relatively new source of error in an online survey is the existence of “professional” respondents. The sampling method from a population or an online panel can lead to the emergence of such a sample that is not representative and does not allow inference to the population at all, or only in a very limited way. Even probability sampling, however, can be problematic if it is affected by a higher rate of non-responses. The aim of this paper is to summarise the possible sources of bias associated with any sample survey, but also to draw attention to those that are relatively new and are associated with the implementation of just quantitative surveys online.
Highlights
Following an extensive debate, scientists agreed on probability sampling as the scientifically relevant method for acquiring population samples back in the mid twentieth century
An evident change occurred in the 1960s, when research practice found out that using telephone questioning instead of a face-to-face interview can reduce the data acquisition costs
Today? The price is probably the most important factor influencing the choice of the data acquisition method, including the sampling procedure, in research practice
Summary
Scientists agreed on probability sampling as the scientifically relevant method for acquiring population samples back in the mid twentieth century. The existence of the Internet has had an impact on all phases of field surveys, since its use is undoubtedly beneficial: it reduces both financial and time costs, enables surveying large and heterogeneous sets, and offers a wide range of different research tools at a high (real and perceived) level of anonymity of data providers. It is of a supranational nature and survey. It is a virtually identical proportion as with the population of individuals; after all, according to the CZSO, more than 97 % of Internet users connected to the Internet from home [2015]
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