Open-Ended Questionnaires - PERVERT Flashcards
Practical factors
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires allow respondents to provide detailed and personalized responses, offering insights that may not be captured by closed-ended questions.
Weaknesses: However, analysing open-ended responses can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, as researchers must manually code and interpret qualitative data.
Ethical factors
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires respect participants’ autonomy and allow them to express their views and experiences in their own words, promoting a sense of agency and empowerment.
Weaknesses: Nonetheless, researchers must ensure informed consent and provide clear instructions to participants to minimize confusion or discomfort when responding to open-ended prompts.
Reliability
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires can yield reliable data when coding and analysis procedures are rigorously applied to ensure consistency and accuracy in interpreting responses.
Weaknesses: However, reliability may be affected by factors such as subjective interpretation, coder bias, and the variability of responses across participants.
Validity
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires can enhance the validity of findings by allowing respondents to provide rich and nuanced insights into their perspectives, experiences, and attitudes.
Weaknesses: Yet, the subjective nature of interpretation in open-ended responses may introduce biases or inaccuracies in data analysis, potentially affecting the reliability and generalizability of findings.
Examples
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires are commonly used in qualitative research across various disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, and education. For example, they may be used to explore themes such as identity, social relationships, and cultural practices in depth.
Weaknesses: However, open-ended questionnaires may not be suitable for all research contexts, particularly those requiring standardized or quantifiable data collection methods.
Representativeness
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires can enhance the representativeness of findings by allowing respondents to express diverse perspectives and experiences, providing a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.
Weaknesses: Nonetheless, the representativeness of open-ended questionnaires may be limited by factors such as response rates, sample characteristics, and the extent to which respondents’ views reflect those of the broader population.
Theoretical factors
Strengths: Open-ended questionnaires can contribute to theoretical development by generating rich qualitative data that deepens understanding of social phenomena and informs theoretical frameworks.
Weaknesses: However, the interpretation of data from open-ended questionnaires may be influenced by researchers’ theoretical biases and assumptions, requiring careful reflexivity and critical analysis.
