OnlineErhebung

OnlineErhebung is a method of data collection that uses the internet to gather information from respondents. It includes online surveys, questionnaires, and web-based forms that users can complete on a computer or mobile device. In German-speaking research contexts, the term denotes the broader practice of web-based data collection.

Respondents access a web link and answer questions at their own pace. Question formats commonly used in online Erhebungen include multiple choice, Likert scales, open text, and adaptive or skip logic. Careful instrument design, readable layout, and accessibility considerations are essential.

Advantages of online Erhebung include low cost, rapid data collection, scalable sample sizes, and convenient administration for researchers and participants. It enables easy recruitment through emails, social networks, and websites, and supports automated data capture and preliminary analyses.

Challenges include sampling bias and self-selection, nonresponse, and the digital divide. Data quality can be affected by poorly designed questions, fatigue, or multiple submissions. Privacy and data protection are critical, with requirements often governed by regulations such as the GDPR, including informed consent, anonymization or pseudonymization, and secure storage.

Applications span social sciences, market research, user experience studies, public opinion polling, and program evaluation. Best practices emphasize transparent consent, pilot testing, data quality checks, moderation of incentives, and adherence to ethical guidelines and data protection laws.