Not all respondents are created equal. It’s true. Just because you can convince someone to take your survey doesn’t mean you necessarily want them to take your survey. In fact, ensuring that the right respondents take your survey (in the right proportions) is probably among the most important things you can do to ensure that you finish your project with survey results that you can use. (more…)

I finally received my copy of SPSS Statistics 17 a couple of days ago and determined that I would try to push past my frustration with the “new and improved” Java-based interface and use it to analyze some data for a report I’m working on. But I can’t do it. There aren’t enough compelling features in the new version of SPSS to help me get past my frustration with the Java interface. So I’m sticking with SPSS 15. (more…)

I know I said I wasn’t going to do this, but I get asked this question a lot so I’ve caving in. Here are my (current) favorite survey software packages:

Qualtrics: (internet survey software) has a fantastic variety of question types with a really easy to use survey development system. Also features advanced survey branching capabilities including looping, random blocks of questions and more.

SurveyGizmo: (internet survey software) Also extremely easy to use survey package with a lot of features. Probably the most “Web 2.0″ survey system out their. Friendly, irreverant, with plenty of features for both the advanced user who wants to control every element of the survey experience and the analyst who just wants to get the project done. Has good e-mail invite capabilities, basic analysis tools. Plus, the free account has more features than any other “free” accounts I’ve seen. (more…)

SPSS has been conducting a survey for the last couple of weeks to help them develop SPSS Statistics 18 (the “new” name of what has formerly just been known as SPSS 17). One generally imagines that the questions that are asked provide insight into the types of new features they are considering, (more…)

Statistical consultant Karen Grace-Martin launched a new blog in July, 2008 called “StatChat” which makes a lot of relevant, important, but sometimes hard to grasp statistical concepts easy to understand. Categories of postings include linear regression, missing data, spss, sas, anova, factor analysis, and sample size — things that all market research deal with on a regular basis (whether they like it or not!).

Karen is the founder and president of The Analysis Factor, a professional statistical consulting firm. Karen holds advanced degrees in both applied statistics and social psychology. She was a professional statistical consultant at Cornell University for seven years before founding her own company, and has taught statistics at the University of California Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College. She has also co-written an introductory statistics textbook called Data Analysis with SPSS.

http://www.analysisfactor.com/statchat/