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Review
. 2020 Nov 23;35(45):e398.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e398.

Reporting Survey Based Studies - a Primer for Authors

Prithvi Sanjeevkumar Gaur  1 , Olena Zimba  2 , Vikas Agarwal  3 , Latika Gupta  4
Affiliations
Review

Reporting Survey Based Studies - a Primer for Authors

Prithvi Sanjeevkumar Gaur et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a massive rise in survey-based research. The paucity of perspicuous guidelines for conducting surveys may pose a challenge to the conduct of ethical, valid and meticulous research. The aim of this paper is to guide authors aiming to publish in scholarly journals regarding the methods and means to carry out surveys for valid outcomes. The paper outlines the various aspects, from planning, execution and dissemination of surveys followed by the data analysis and choosing target journals. While providing a comprehensive understanding of the scenarios most conducive to carrying out a survey, the role of ethical approval, survey validation and pilot testing, this brief delves deeper into the survey designs, methods of dissemination, the ways to secure and maintain data anonymity, the various analytical approaches, the reporting techniques and the process of choosing the appropriate journal. Further, the authors analyze retracted survey-based studies and the reasons for the same. This review article intends to guide authors to improve the quality of survey-based research by describing the essential tools and means to do the same with the hope to improve the utility of such studies.

Keywords: Data Analysis; Pandemics; Periodicals as Topic; Publishing; Surveys and Questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Algorithm for a survey construct.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Retraction of survey-based studies. (A) Geographic distribution, (B) Common causes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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