ABSTRACT
The survey methodology is widely used in research. It helps to probe individuals’ opinions, attitudes, behavior, and preferences in a social setting and collect information on demographics and various other topics that are of interest to researchers. According to Converse (1987), the survey instrument is like a telescope whose focus can be adjusted, broadened, or narrowed depending upon the needs of the researcher. The versatility in application of this instrument accounts for much of its popularity in the field of social science. In public administration, researchers frequently use the survey methodology to collect information on work values and organizational commitment among individuals in public organizations, people’s opinions on public policies and to gauge the level of their satisfaction with public goods and services. In contingent valuation of those public goods like wilderness areas whose social values are difficult to assess, the survey methodology is often relied upon to collect information from the public for valuing such goods (Weimer, 2005, p. 73).
