Survey documentation quality: A case study of the methodological inventory covering characteristics of surveys from 30 comparative programmes from around the globe

Abstract

Methodological documentation serves as the primary source of information about sampling schemes, fieldwork procedures and related sources of potential measurement error in survey research. The quality of such documentation, including its  completeness and standardization, is crucial for conducting methodological analyses based on inventories of multiple  comparative survey programmes. Individual examples and quantitative summaries of historical development, as well as current methodological reports, serve as a foundation for reflecting on potential future analyses based on large methodological inventories. Therefore, the aim of this paper
was to thoroughly analyse the gathered data, identify critical issues, and prepare proposals for a standardized report format suitable for automatic processing. The implementation of these proposals could enhance the capacity to conduct extensive methodological analyses. Given the increasing costs and labour intensity of survey research, both substantial and methodological data should be thoroughly utilized. The analysis is based on a methodological inventory of 10,493 surveys from 30 comparative programmes, spanning all inhabited continents. The paper demonstrates the challenges encountered during data collection and presents completeness indicators for both selected programmes and the complete dataset. The findings reveal that low levels of standardization between analysed methodological reports necessitate a critical evaluation of current practices. This situation impedes the development of future methodological inventories. The paper identifies critical barriers to creating quantitative comparisons of documentation quality and proposes solutions. Additionally, it presents a standardized report format addressing existing issues and potentially facilitating harmonization efforts.