ABSTRACT
A rule that we all learn in childhood is that if you ask silly questions, you are likely to receive silly answers. Yet, for some reason, it is a rule that many forget when contemplating undertaking a social survey as part of their research projects. Social surveys are methods of collecting information from people about their ideas, beliefs, opinions, feelings, background, behaviour or plans. Usually taking the form of questionnaires and interviews, they involve systematic and structured questioning of individuals to produce data. Social surveys look easy to design. Given their resemblance to everyday conversations, what could be easier than quickly devising a questionnaire or carrying out a few interviews to gain the desired information?
