La survey tra crisi e innovazione

The paper analyzes the main methodological innovations of the survey research, within the context of its historical development. Referring to the histori-cal summary proposed by Groves in 2011, three eras of research surveys – the origins, the expansion and the challenges coming from the so-called organic data – are reviewed. The article illustrates the main directions of innovation, both those within research design (Web survey, mixed modes, survey experiment) and those related to the integration with other data and approaches (big data, mixed methods, biosocial survey). The development of these innovations is also ana-lyzed in the contexts of official statistics and large international surveys. The great wealth that this recognition returns is in sharp contrast with the thesis of the research survey crisis supported by some scholars.