Surveys and big data are ‘complementary, not competing data sources', says task force

The AAPOR Report on Big Data, prepared for the AAPOR Council, offers examples of different types of big data and their potential for survey research, as well as describing “the big data process” and its main challenges.

The report offers a number of recommendations, including the development of standards for the use of big data “when more knowledge has been accumulated”; that AAPOR should work with the private sector and other professional organisations to educate its members on big data; and that the public should be informed of the risks and benefits of big data.

The report also advises that surveys and big data should be seen as complementary, not competing data sources. “There are differences between the approaches”, the report says, “but this should be seen as an advantage rather than a disadvantage.”

“Research is about answering questions, and one way to answer questions is to start utilising all information available. The availability of big data to support research provides a new way to approach old questions as well as an ability to address some new questions that in the past were out of reach.

“However, the findings that are generated based on big data inevitably generate more questions, and some of those questions tend to be best addressed by traditional survey research methods.”