Surveys in health services research

Abstract

Survey research has been an accepted and established part of health research, and a comprehensive review carried out by Cartwright (1983) demonstrates the scope of surveys and the variety of methods employed within this field. Most of the surveys she reviews, however, are relatively large undertakings, either because they are part of a national study, such as the General Household Survey, or because they are separately funded academic pieces of work. On the whole, surveys to assist local decision-making processes have to be more modestly designed.