Litigation Services Handbook, 2015 Cumulative Supplement: The Role of the Financial Expert, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 6A

SURVEY RESEARCH IN LITIGATION

Paul J. Lavrakas

Jeffery A. Stec

CONTENTS

6A.1 Introduction

(a) What Is a Survey?

(b) Reasons for Surveys in a Litigation Context

(c) The Admissibility of Surveys in Litigation

(d) The Role and Qualifications of the Expert

(e) The Total Survey Error Framework

(f) Cost-Benefit Trade-Offs in Survey Research

6A.2 Planning the Survey and Identifying Its Purpose

6A.3 Sample Design and Selection

(a) Probability versus Nonprobability Samples

(b) Target Population

(c) Sampling Frame

(d) Selection and Size of Sample

6A.4 Additional Considerations for Sampling Design

(a) Probability Samples

(b) Using Experimental Design Methods to Test Causal Hypotheses

(c) Unit Nonresponse

(d) Item Nonresponse

6A.5 Questionnaire Design

(a) Specification Error and Questionnaire-Related Measurement Error

(b) Screening for Eligible Respondents

(c) Respondent-Related Measurement Error

(d) Interviewer-Related Measurement Error

6A.6 Survey Mode (Data Collection)

(a) In-Person Mode

(b) Telephone Mode

(c) Mail Mode

(d) Interactive-Voice Response Mode

(e) Internet Mode

(f) Mixed-Mode Surveys

6A.7 Postsurvey Adjustments

(a) Potential Data Errors

(b) Missing Data

(c) Weighting Survey Data

(d) Creating Additional Variables

6A.8 Survey Analysis

6A.9 Conclusion

NOTES

6A.1 INTRODUCTION

The use of surveys to gather information for research and decision making pervades society. Managers and executives rely on survey research in the private sector, the public sector, the academic ...