13. Questionnaires

Question 1

Things you must consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey

Answer 1

1. Type of data
2. Ambiguity
3. Double-barrelled questions
4. Leading questions
5. Complexity

Question 2

Consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey: Type of data

Answer 2

Whether you want qualitative data and/or quantitative data will affect whether you ask open and/or closed questions.

Question 3

What are open questions

Answer 3

• The P can reply in any way, & in as much detail as they want.
• This gives detailed, qualitative info, although it may be hard to analyse, as the P’s could give very different answers.

Eg: What kings of music do you like?

Question 4

What are closed questions

Answer 4

• Limit the answers that can be given (eg. Which do you like: Pop, Rock or neither?).
• They give quantitative data that is relatively easy to analyse (eg. you can say exactly how many ppl liked each type of music).
• However, less detail is obtained abt each P.

Question 5

Consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey: Ambiguity

Answer 5

You have to avoid questions & answer options which are not clearly defined.

Eg: Do you listen to music frequently? … What is meant here by ‘frequently’ - once a day, once a week?

Question 6

Consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey: Double-barrelled questions

Answer 6

Its best not to use these, since a person may wish to answer differently to each part.

Eg: Do you agree that modern music is not as good as the music of the 1960s & that there should be more guitar-based music in the charts?

Question 7

Consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey: Leading questions

Answer 7

• These are questions that lead the P towards a particular answer.
• Eg: How old was the boy in the distance? They might have seen an older person, but by saying ‘boy’, you’re leading them to describe the person as young. You’re also leading them to think that the person was male, but they might not have been sure.
• Its really important to avoid leading questions in EWT.

Question 8

Consider when designing a questionnaire for a survey: Complexity

Answer 8

• Whenever possible, clear English should be used, avoiding jargon (complex words/phrases hard for others to understand).
• However, if specialist terms are included, they should be clearly defined.

Eg: The question ‘Do you prefer music written in unusual time signatures?’ probably isnt ideal for most ppl.