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Designing an Effective Survey

• SEI Report
By
This 2005 document presents a seven-stage, end-to-end process for conducting a survey.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6573062.v1
Topic or Tag

Abstract

A survey can characterize the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of a large group of people through the study of a subset of them. However, to protect the validity of conclusions drawn from a survey, certain procedures must be followed throughout the process of designing, developing, and distributing the survey questionnaire.  

Surveys are used extensively by software and systems engineering organizations to provide insight into complex issues, assist with problem solving, and support effective decision making. 

This document presents a seven-stage, end-to-end process for conducting a survey.

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Cite This SEI Report

Kasunic, M. (2005, September 1). Designing an Effective Survey. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004). Retrieved August 15, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1.

@techreport{kasunic_2005,
author={Kasunic, Mark},
title={Designing an Effective Survey},
month={Sep},
year={2005},
number={{CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6573062.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-15}
}

Kasunic, Mark. "Designing an Effective Survey." (CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 1, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1.

M. Kasunic, "Designing an Effective Survey," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004, 1-Sep-2005 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1. [Accessed: 15-Aug-2026].

Kasunic, Mark. "Designing an Effective Survey." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Sep. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Kasunic, Mark. Designing an Effective Survey. CMU/SEI-2005-HB-004. Software Engineering Institute. 2005. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6573062.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6573062.v1

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