questionnaires Flashcards
what are all the practical advantages of questionnaires
quick + cheap way of getting league info from large populations, widely spread geographically
no need to recruit + train interviewers to collect data as respondents do the questionnaire on their own
data easy to quantify , particularly where pre coded as its quantitative it reveals relationship easily
Conner and Dewson questionnaire study
4,000 questionnaires to students at higher education institutions around the country to see in their study of the factors influencing decisions of working class going to uni (practical advantages)
what are the reliability advantages of questionnaires
- one research completed a questionnaire identical to that one can be used. new respondents have the same questions in same order with same choice of answers
postal/ online questionnaires there is no researcher present that may influence respondents answers
if we do find differences in the answers, it is because of real differences between respondents not the result of different questions
allow comparisons over time between different societies coksoring results obtained
hypothesis testing advantages of questionnaires
useful in detecting cause and effect between variables + finding
why do positivists like questionnaires
sociologists minimal involvement means that detachment in maintained and there is no objectivity
representativeness advantages of questionnaires
coke from large number of people, stand better chance of being generalisable compared to research with small amounts
researcher may be more thoughtful for the sampling techniques they pick so that it’s representative
ethical issues advantages in questionnaires
although may ask sensitive questions, respondent under no obligation to answer
researchers should make sure consent is given + ensure participants confidentiality
practical disadvantages of questionnaires
data is limited + superficial - respondents unlikely to complete + turn a long time consuming questionnaire
since they are cheap it may be necessary to offer incentives to persuade respondents to answer - adds to cost
postal questionnaires
- did the respondents actually receive
- did they return the questionnaire to who it was addressed
low response rate disadvantages
especially in postal questionnaires
Hites study : low response rate
sent out 100,000 questionnaires about love passion and emotional violence
4.5% were returned
differences in who returns a questionnaire if there’s a low response rate
busy people in full time work may not be able to answer
unemployed socially isolated people have more time
this attracts unemployed people whereas people in employment may be different - not valid + no generalisations can be made
what are the inflexibility disadvantages of questionnaires
once questionnaire is finalised, no new topics can be explored if new area of interest comes up
questionnaires as snapshots ; disadvantages
give a picture of social reality at only one moment in time so do not paint fully valid picture or behaviour change
disadvantages of questionnaires: detachment Cicourel
data from questionnaire lacks validity as it does not paint a true picture of what has. even studied , we can only do that by analysing meaning of peoples behaviours
lack of contact means that the respondent + researcher may analyse differently and answer wrong
lying, forgetting and right answerism
it relies on participants willingness to give full and accurate answer
by lying or trying to second guess - may not be the full truth
