Enquestes

Enquestes are systematic tools for collecting information from respondents to measure opinions, behaviors, or attributes. They are used in social science research, market research, public health, and public administration. An enquesta commonly uses a questionnaire or interview guide to elicit standardized responses, enabling comparisons across respondents and groups.

Types include cross-sectional surveys, which capture a single moment, and longitudinal surveys, which follow respondents over time. Longitudinal designs include panel and cohort studies. Data can be gathered online, by telephone, face-to-face, or in mixed modes. Question formats range from closed-ended items (multiple choice, Likert scales) to open-ended responses.

Design considerations include sampling methods (random, stratified, clustered), the quality of the sampling frame, and sample size. Questionnaire design emphasizes clarity, neutrality, concise wording, and appropriate question order, with pretesting to identify problems. Ethical aspects include informed consent and protection of respondent privacy.

Data analysis involves cleaning, weighting to adjust for sampling and nonresponse, and descriptive and inferential statistics. Results should be reported with methodological transparency and acknowledged limitations. Enquestes support decision making in policy, business, social programs, and research, while biases such as nonresponse, social desirability, and recall can affect results.

History: Modern enquestes developed in the 19th and 20th centuries alongside statistical social research and mass media. The rise of the internet and mobile devices expanded reach and speed, but introduced new challenges for sampling and data quality.