Evaluation of Web Survey Data Collection Systems

Deciding on which software package to use for Web-based social science data collection can be extremely difficult because of the wide range of software products available. Costs can range from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands, so it is important for the researcher to understand the three major categories of Web survey software and their capabilities before focusing in on comparing any specific group of products. This review highlights three software packages, each representing a category of software that is currently available on the market. The review evaluates each software package on its ability to adhere to known Web survey standards, its flexibility, and its robustness.