On the use of surveys and interviews in social studies of cancer: understanding incoherence

In this article, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the survey as a methodological tool in social studies of cancer. Drawing on our own research on the accessibility and affordability of cancer care in India, we present examples from interviews and identify some limitations inherent in survey-based research approaches. We argue that social studies of cancer require a more rigorous methodology to produce robust and reliable data.