Questionairres Flashcards
Questionnaires- Theoretical
POSITIVIST- :) Test hypothesis and compare
Reliable, standardised measuring tool, repeatable.
Representative
Detached
INTERPRETIVIST :(
Too detached - cannot clarify meaning.
Lie, forget, misunderstand. Desirability bias.
Impose research meaning- choose Qs, answers and if open how categorise SHIPMAN - pruning and bending.
FEMINISM
REINHAARZ- Research as rape
OAKLEY- Mirror gender hierarchy,respondent exploited.
GRAHAM- Distorts women’s true experiences.
QUESTIONAIRES IN CONTEXT- Ethical
Distress
If under 16 need parental consent so often excluded despite importance
QUESTIONAIRES IN CONTEXT- Theoretical
Objectivity
-Gov interest dominate topic selections, questions and operationalisation.
Validity
- Self report studies - retrospective, conceal/exaggerate/forget crime.
DITTON ET AL - Victim surveys reflect Gov and media concerns about crime. In interviews and focus groups found anger not fear.
Reliability-
Depends on wh sends survey to who. 80% probation officers reply to Gov questionnaire about probation, few offenders.
Sampling is hard if group hard to contact
Not always comparable crimes
JUNGAR TAS- More contact with CJS less likely to reply.
QUESTIONNAIRES IN CONTEXT- Practical
Question order effect response - if asked about police effectiveness at start, more positive then if asked at the end,
Wording key - 2 different ways of asking if afraid of crime, 1/3 not worried in first but worried in second.
Quick, good for timing restraints.
WALKGATE 300 questionnaires in 2 weeks, 596 interviews 6mths
Those who reply less typical of those who don’t ie minor criminals vs major. Focus on less serious offences
High illiteracy in prison may make difficult.
Yenkastash- Robert Taylor housing, gun point. Seen as rep of authority.
Questionnaires- Practical Issues
:)
Quick, cheap, no training, large sample.
\:( low response rate Cannot know right person completes inflexible snapshot only useful if know topic well.
