Final answer:
A survey is a research method that collects self-reported data on people's attitudes or beliefs through standardized questions. It is conducted through various mediums and offers anonymity, but data validity relies on honest responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
A survey presents a standard set of questions, or items, to obtain people's self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a particular topic. Surveys involve a structured interview in which respondents are all asked the same questions, and their answers are collected and analyzed to discover attitudes, beliefs, or habits of the general public or segments of the population. Surveys can be conducted in various forms, including print, electronically, or in person, and they offer a level of anonymity for respondents to express personal ideas.
An example of a large-scale survey is the U.S. Census, which gathers sociological data from residents of the United States and its territories. Survey methods are quite common in social sciences research and can provide a considerable amount of information in a relatively short time. However, the validity of the data collected through surveys depends on the honesty of the respondents' self-reporting.