0 d urveys are used to collect information on a broad ange of subjects of interest in fields as diverse s health, sociology, psychology, economics, maret research, business and law.1 They consist of a umber of written questions and are completed by respondents’. A survey is used when large numers of respondents are required, when questions re relatively simple and easy to respond to, and hen the study does not require detailed clarifiation or exploration of responses. A large number f surveys have been conducted in complementary edicine, many focusing on trying to find out why eople use complementary approaches (and their haracteristics). My experience has been that a survey is ofen chosen for an undergraduate or masters disertation project, perhaps on the assumption that survey is easy to carry out. This is not true: a orthwhile survey needs care and skill in designneed to carefully consider the purpose of your research. Your research question should guide your method, rather than the other way round.