Sondage vs. enquête
The French words 'sondage' and 'enquête' are often used to refer to methods of gathering information from people, usually to learn about their opinions or behaviors. While they are sometimes used interchangeably, they have distinct connotations and are used in different contexts.
Sondage
'Sondage' generally refers to a poll or survey designed to measure public opinion or preferences, typically using a representative sample of the population. It often implies a quantitative approach, with the goal of obtaining measurable results that can be generalized to the wider population.
Un sondage d'opinion a été réalisé avant les élections pour prédire le parti gagnant.
(An opinion poll was conducted before the elections to predict the winning party.)
Le sondage montre que 60% des répondants préfèrent le nouveau produit.
(The survey shows that 60% of respondents prefer the new product.)
Nous avons utilisé un sondage en ligne pour recueillir les avis des consommateurs sur notre service.
(We used an online poll to gather consumer feedback on our service.)
Enquête
'Enquête' refers to an investigation or inquiry, typically more in-depth than a 'sondage'. It is often qualitative in nature and may involve comprehensive data collection methods such as interviews or case studies. 'Enquête' emphasizes a more detailed examination of a subject or issue.
La police a ouvert une enquête sur le vol dans la bijouterie.
(The police have opened an investigation into the jewelry store theft.)
Une enquête de satisfaction client a révélé plusieurs points à améliorer dans notre service après-vente.
(A customer satisfaction survey revealed several areas for improvement in our after-sales service.)
L'enquête ethnographique dans cette communauté a pris plusieurs années pour être complétée.
(The ethnographic study in this community took several years to complete.)
Summary
In summary, while both 'sondage' and 'enquête' involve collecting information, 'sondage' normally refers to quantitative polls aimed at measuring public opinion, whereas 'enquête' suggests a more qualitative and thorough investigation into a particular subject matter. Understanding the distinction between these terms is important for effectively communicating the scope and methodology of a study or data-gathering exercise in French-speaking contexts.