Book excerpt: Conducting Survey Research in the Social Sciences presents basic concepts and general guidelines for those who are interested in conducting a survey by breaking the process down into eight steps and twenty-three questions. It outlines the appropriate sequential steps necessary to help the reader initiate and develop a survey. Following each of the eight steps as depicted in the eight chapters and answering the questions provided enables the creation of an effective survey. The authors also include three fictitious vignettes to illustrate how the decisions should be made, and how proper survey research should be conducted to meet many different needs.