Marchetti, Kathleen. The Use of Surveys in Interest Group Research. Interest Groups & Advocacy 4, no. 3 (2015): 272-282.

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Scholars utilize a variety of research methods in studies of interest group formation, presence and influence. From aggregate counts of interest group populations to in-depth participant observation, scholars have used a variety of methods in studies of interest groups' role(s) in the policy process. The application of survey research has proven to be a successful method for obtaining group-specific information across a variety of group types and settings. Though organizational sampling and methods of survey dissemination can differ dramatically across studies, the subfield lacks a comprehensive review of the use of surveys within interest group research. This paucity leaves unanswered several questions regarding the frequency and efficacy of survey research within the subfield. What types of questions have been answered via surveys of organizations? What benefits are provided by this methodological approach? What challenges emerge when surveying interest groups and how have scholars overcome these obstacles? These questions are pertinent to scholars of interest groups and survey researchers alike, and this review provides guidance for the construction and dissemination of future interest group surveys.

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