11] Surveys And Interviews

Question 1

What is a survey

Answer 1

It’s an activity in which many people are asked a question or series of questions in order to gather information about what most people think about something

Question 2

What are the two types of questionnaires

Answer 2

1: Self-administered

2: Interviewer lead

Question 3

What is postal questionnaires

Answer 3

You simply send the survey to random house via the postal system, using a stamped addressed envelope so they can send it back.
And the participants will complete it in their own time

Question 4

Postal Questionnaires: What increases the response rates

Answer 4

1: Use their name
2: Ensure minimal response effort is needed
3: Use the method of delivery only for topics that they are likely to respond to

Question 5

Postal Questionnaires: Pros

Answer 5

1: Easy to do with probability sampling
2: Quick response time
3: Removes researcher bias
4: Good for personal questions
5: Easy to create

Question 6

Postal Questionnaires: Cons

Answer 6

1: They cannot clarify the questions meanings
2: Open to response bias
3: Can often be directed towards a household and not a person themselves

Question 7

What are internet questionnaires

Answer 7

These are online versions of the questionnaires that people can answer across their technological devices
Participants get directed to them through
. A link on a website
. A link in an email
. A post on social media

Question 8

Internet Questionnaires: Pros

Answer 8

1: Cheap
2: Less paper waste
3: Small burden for participants
4: Sample from around the world
5: Good for personal questions
6: More complex designs possible

Question 9

Internet Questionnaires: Cons

Answer 9

1: Cannot clarify the questions meaning
2: Internet users who respond might not be representative
3: They can submit multiple responses

Question 10

What are personal interviews

Answer 10

This is where the researchers themselves verbally conduct the questionnaire, which is commonly done in public spaces

Question 11

Personal Interviews: Pros

Answer 11

1: Can clarify issue
2: Impose order and require answers
3: Complex design allowed
4: Can be more ethical

Question 12

Personal Interviews: Cons

Answer 12

1: Expensive and time-consuming
2: Difficult to implement with probability sampling
3: People are not always willing to engage in interviews
4: Interviewer bias

Question 13

What are telephone questionnaires

Answer 13

They are conducted over a telephone and numbers are found through records like a phone book, this also allows you to use a randomized number picker

Question 14

Telephone Questionnaires: Pros

Answer 14

1: Many of the same advantages as personal interviews
2: Can allow access to dangerous neighborhoods
3: Distance between researcher and participant is irrelevant

Question 15

Telephone Questionnaires: Cons

Answer 15

1: More and more people do not have landlines
2: Mobile phones mean that participants may be in a very different setting when responding
3: People can easily screen calls or employ answering machines

Question 16

When studying change in a questionnaire what are the three types of effects

Answer 16

1: Age effects
2: Cohort effects
3: Time effects

Question 17

What are cross sectional designs

Answer 17

It’s a research design in which individuals typically of different ages or developmental levels are compared at a single point in time
E.g: The census

Question 18

What are longitudal designs

Question 19

What is explanatory research

Answer 19

When the research wants to find out more on a topic

Question 20

What confirmatory research

Answer 20

When a researcher is theory testing and already has an idea of what the data should look like

Question 21

Interviews: what is the informal conversational approach

Answer 21

This is a regular conversation with no predetermined questions, guided by the participants responses and often conducted in a participant observer fieldwork

Question 22

Informal Conversational Approach: Pros and Cons

Answer 22

Pros
1: Very flexible
2: Interviewer can be responsive
3: Context sensitive
Cons
1: Time consuming
2: Difficult to analyze
3: Skilled interviewer

Question 23

Interviews: what are semi structured

Answer 23

It contains a list of topics to explore and the aim is to gain general bits of information, also allowing for individual perspectives

Question 24

Semi-Structured: Pros and Cons

Answer 24

Pros
1: Very flexible
2: More focused than conversational response
3: Easier to compare responses
Cons
1: Careful planning needed
2: Structure takes away flexibility
3: Vulnerable to interviewer effect

Question 25

Interviews: Standardized open ended interviews

Answer 25

The same questions are asked to each respondent, this makes them faster and allows for easier comparisons

Question 26

Standardized Open-Ended Interviews: Pros and Cons

Answer 26

Pros
1: Time efficient
2: Data analysis is easier
3: Same info is gathered each time
Cons
1: Through planning needed
2: Little flexibility
3: Individual experiences masked

Question 27

Interviews: Focus groups

Answer 27

This is where a group of people and an interviewer discusses particular topics for around 1-2 hours
It’s often used in explanatory research, program development or program evaluation
The interviewer has three main functions
1: Make participants comfortable
2: Keep discussion focused
3: Seek clarification

Question 28

Focus Groups: Pros and Cons

Answer 28

Pros
1: Cost effective
2: Less intimidating to participants
3: Good at gauging normative attitudes and opinions
Cons
1: Group settings can be intimidating
2: Individuals opinions can be distorted by group influences
3: Can be very difficult to analyze responses

Question 29

Inadequate response to interview are

Answer 29

1: Partial responses
2: Irrelevant responses
3: Inaccurate responses
4: Verbalised response problem
5: Non response