In social work research, which type of data is primarily collected using surveys?

Surveys are a common method utilized in social work research to gather data about people's attitudes, beliefs, experiences, and demographic information. When surveys are administered, they typically consist of structured questions that can be quantified, meaning the responses can be analyzed statistically. This characteristic of generating numerical data is what aligns surveys with quantitative research.

Quantitative data allows researchers to establish patterns, test hypotheses, and make generalizations about larger populations based on the sample surveyed. This is particularly vital in social work as practitioners may use the findings from such research to inform policy decisions, program development, or evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Other types of data, such as qualitative data, would involve open-ended questions that yield nuanced textual responses, requiring different methods of analysis. Ethnographic data might arise from observational techniques or in-depth interviews rather than standardized survey instruments. Longitudinal data involves repeated observations of the same variables over time, often not solely through surveys but through various methods designed for long-term study. Thus, surveys are predominantly associated with the collection of quantitative data, which supports the conclusion that this answer is correct.