I am writing about a survey I wrote to evaluate the usability of a program. When describing the methodology of the survey, I refer to the person conducting the survey as the investigator. What should I call the other person?
The investigator gave the [?] a tour of the functions of the application.asked Mar 26, 2011 at 12:22 912 3 3 gold badges 10 10 silver badges 19 19 bronze badges
Given the usual case of a survey being completely for the benefit of the commissioner; "victim" comes to mind.
Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 17:50 Since I gave them chocolate, are they 'bribees'? Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 17:52I'd also just say that survey is probably inappropriate for this specific example, which looks more like a UAT (User Acceptance Testing) process. In which case the [?] should probably be called testers, users, or maybe even clients.
Commented Mar 29, 2011 at 0:12 You would call that person a retiree. Commented Jul 5, 2012 at 14:45I suspect participant may be more common, particularly when pluralised, but that may simply be because it's a more common word applicable in many other contexts. For a single individual in this context, respondent seems more precise to me.
It's less common, but I think interviewee is equally suitable in OP's context.
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 15:02 FumbleFingers FumbleFingers 142k 45 45 gold badges 295 295 silver badges 521 521 bronze badgesParticipant just indicates involvement. The investigator is also a participant. A respondant indicates not only involvement, but a role or primary activities or responsibilities.
Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 21:36@JustinC: Totally agree. Belatedly I've "emboldened" respondent to make it crystal clear that it's better than participant for OP's context.
Commented Jul 5, 2012 at 22:13You would call that person a participant in the survey.
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 12:26 152k 41 41 gold badges 364 364 silver badges 608 608 bronze badgesI have some experience in the surveying industry and we call them respondents.
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 17:57 Joe Phillips Joe Phillips 672 2 2 gold badges 8 8 silver badges 14 14 bronze badgesAs I suspected. I just googled "+survey +participant" and got 17M hits. Significantly less for "+survey +respondent", but the first query got lots of results from blogs, newspapers, advertisers, etc., whereas the second seems to have more results from pollsters and others in the business.
Commented Mar 27, 2011 at 1:38For completeness: Google gives some hits for surveyee, e.g. on Wiktionary.
But I do think participant or respondent as suggested in other answers goes better with investigator.
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 17:44 2,040 2 2 gold badges 14 14 silver badges 23 23 bronze badgesMost of the answers have decided on participant, which I think is the most appropriate. We can also use respondent, according to the following combase.ca glossary entry:
66.8k 11 11 gold badges 111 111 silver badges 208 208 bronze badges answered Mar 26, 2011 at 21:08 121 2 2 bronze badgesRespondent: Refers to the selected person in the household who will answer the questionnaire.
Someone who participates of anything is a participant. Someone who is using an application is a user. Someone being investigated is a suspect. Someone being surveyed can also be a respondent.
But in the instance, I would just say:
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 18:41 191 6 6 bronze badgesThe survey person conducted the participant through an application's function tour.
Perhaps participant, omitting in the survey if the context allows.
answered Mar 26, 2011 at 17:49 163 1 1 gold badge 1 1 silver badge 5 5 bronze badgesThe investigator gave the participant a tour of the functions of the application.
It used to be a survey assistant who held the pole but with the advent of robotic total stations a lot of it is now a one-man job so the surveyor does everything.
answered Mar 27, 2011 at 19:12 24.2k 4 4 gold badges 50 50 silver badges 96 96 bronze badges You have misunderstood, I am talking about the other person. Commented Mar 27, 2011 at 19:28@fredley, yes you used to have another person to do the unskilled pole holding part. While you worked the instrument but now the instruments are remote controlled so you can hold the pole - saving a salary
Commented Mar 27, 2011 at 19:29Instruments? Pole holding? I have no idea what you're talking about. As stated in my survey this is a usability survey for an app I wrote.
Commented Mar 27, 2011 at 19:32 mgb is apparently talking about a land survey. I fail to see the relevance. Commented Mar 28, 2011 at 20:58Other popular terms for a person who fills out a survey:
individual, person, member of that demographic group, member of the population, respondent, writer, .
If you choose a certain category of people to take your survey (rather than a randomly selected people in your city), then you might use terms that apply to that category: computer user, Mac user, iPhone user, Android user, guitarist, grandmother, etc.
answered Mar 28, 2011 at 21:05 David Cary David Cary 525 5 5 silver badges 9 9 bronze badgesHighly active question. Earn 10 reputation (not counting the association bonus) in order to answer this question. The reputation requirement helps protect this question from spam and non-answer activity.
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