title: Survey methodology for the uninitiated.
abstract: Mailed, self-administered questionnaires are a common data collection method used in family practice research. However, little guidance exists in the medical literature about survey methodology specifically designed for family practitioners. As a result, primary care physicians sometimes struggle with questionnaire design and interpretation. Our goal was to synthesize general survey methodology guidelines (from other disciplines as well as our own) in a manner that would be meaningful to novice family practice researchers.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, Dallas, TX 75390-9067, USA. Cristen.Wall@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Cristen R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: DeHaven
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Oeffinger
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires