World Wide Surveys

Universal Principles for Effective Survey Design

Regardless of whether one is creating a survey in the academic, non-profit, or commercial sector, they should strive to conduct surveys that:

  • Are likely to produce findings with sufficient accuracy for their intended purpose.
  • Are as accurate as possible within the resources available to the project (e.g., time and money).
  • Run consistently in all countries/geographies.
Tools for Comparable Findings

BERENT has developed tools to address the three most critical issues in producing findings that are comparable across a set of countries:

  • Translations of the master questionnaires.
  • CATI, CAWI programming (identical routing, question options, etc.).
  • Data file structures.
Versatile Research Software

We are utilising specialised survey software packages, which are versatile in catering to diverse research needs. Their remarkable strengths lie in facilitating mixed-mode surveys, seamlessly integrating multiple survey methods for a comprehensive approach.

By possessing a lifetime license for our survey software, we have unlimited access and control over its usage on our own web-server. This means that our clients are exempt from a need of data processing agreement with the survey software, simplifying administrative processes and ensuring transparency in data handling. Additionally, to prioritise data protection and privacy, all data collected through our surveys is stored and hosted exclusively in the EU.

The software supports surveys in practically all languages, from the Latin alphabetic writing system (e.g., German, English, French, Italian and Spanish) to the alphabetic writing system of non-Roman languages (e.g., Greek and Russian), to logographic or phonetic (e.g., Chinese, Japanese and Korean) and other script types (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew, Indian and Thai). Moreover, respondents can seamlessly conduct multilingual surveys within the same questionnaire, being directed to sections in their preferred language.

Consistency Across Countries

The master questionnaire is programmed just once, ensuring consistency across all countries. The “local” version of the questionnaire remains identical to the master questionnaire, and since all countries employ the same CATI or CAWI questionnaire, truly identical data files are produced.

It is possible to conduct fieldwork simultaneously in several countries throughout the world and still have a 100% exact and comparable picture of fieldwork in terms of both quality and quantity. Interim and update reports on data collection, or even survey findings, can be provided either instantaneously or on a next-day basis.

Overall, we promise a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for clients seeking to conduct diverse and efficient research projects at a local or international level.

For more information on seamlessly conducting surveys on a local or international scale, please contact us at: info@berent.com.