könnunir

Könnunir are systematic methods for gathering information from a selected group of respondents to estimate characteristics of a larger population. The term könnun (singular) means survey or polling in Icelandic; könnunir are multiple surveys. Surveys use instruments such as questionnaires or interview guides to collect data.

Types include cross-sectional surveys, which capture a snapshot at one point in time, and longitudinal or panel surveys, which follow respondents over time. They can be household surveys, consumer or market surveys, public opinion polls, or health, education, or enterprise surveys.

Methodology: A könnun typically involves planning the research question, designing a data collection instrument, selecting a sampling plan, collecting responses, and analyzing results. Sampling seeks representativeness through methods such as simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, or systematic sampling. Data collection can be conducted face-to-face, by telephone, by mail or online. Questionnaire design emphasizes clear wording, neutral order, and the avoidance of bias.

Ethics and quality: Good könnun practice emphasizes informed consent, privacy, and data protection; responses should be anonymized where possible. Reliability and validity depend on instrument quality, sampling, and response rates; nonresponse bias and measurement error are common concerns.

Applications: könnunir inform public policy, market research, social science, health and education studies, and program evaluation. Limitations include sampling error, nonresponse, social desirability bias, and cost. Several chapters exist within statistics and research methodology to guide best practices.