Questionnaires Flashcards
Questionnaires are
lists of pre-set questions to which respondents are asked to supply answers
cheap, fast and efficient for obtaining large amounts of data
favoured by positivists (easily quantifiable and can be analysed ‘scientifically’)
Principles of questionnaire design
- do a pilot study to identify problems
- as shot as possible, with clear lay out and instructions (to be as easy as possible for respondents)
- have a suitable range of answers to allow respondents to express views
- clear and neutral language
- only questions which can be answered accurately
- avoiding leading questions (ones which encourage people to give a particular answer)
- confidentiality
Types of questionnaire
- pre-coded or closed questionnaires
- open-ended or open questionnaires
- postal/mail or online self-completion questionnaires
Pre-coded or closed questionnaires
- high structured
- individuals are asked a set of closed questions with limited multiple choice answers
Advantages of pre-coded or closed questionnaires
- fairly quick to complete
- produce standardised data (easy to classify and create quantitative date)
- reliable
- allow data to produce new theories or test hypotheses
- enable comparisons between different groups
Disadvantages of pre-coded or closed questionnaires
- meaning of questions may be unclear to participants
- extra questions cannot be asked to get respondents to clarify or explain
- risk of the imposition problem
The imposition problem definition
the risk that the researcher, when asking questions, might be imposing their own views or framework on the people being researched, rather than getting at what they really think
Open-ended or open questionnaires
- less structured
- usually have pre-set questions
- no pre-set choice of answers
Advantages of open-ended or open questionnaires
- produce more valid data, as respondents use their own words
- less risk of the imposition problem
- produce more detail and depth
Disadvantages of open-ended or open questionnaires
- range of possible answers makes it difficult to classify and quantify results
- meanings of answers may be unclear to the researcher
- wide variety of answers make it difficult to compare results with other research
Postal/mail or online self-completion questionnaires
- respondent completes questionnaire alone
- can help getting answers to embarrassing or sensitive topics
Advantages of self-completion questionnaires
- relatively cheap (avoids paying interviewers)
- collects data from large numbers of people spread over a wide geographical area
- results are obtained quickly
- more precise answers can be obtained as participants are able to think longer or consult documents
- sensitive topics may be more likely to get responses
- no problem of interviewer bias
Interviewer bias definition
the answers given in an interview being distorted or influenced by the presence of behaviour of the interviewer
Disadvantages of self-completion questionnaires
- major problems with low response rate so may be unrepresentative and less valid
- people may not be truthful due to forgetfulness or dishonesty
- no interviewer present to prompt replies or explain questions
- no way of knowing whether the right person completed the questionnaire
Edwards et al (2002) point out that non-response to postal questionnaires reduces the effective sample size and can affect validity.
Found that response rate can be improved by
- a financial incentive
- a shorter questionnaire
- personalising questionnaires with accompanying letters
- using coloured ink
- first-class or recorded delivery, with stamped return envelopes provided
- contacting participants before sending questionnaires
- follow-up contact
- designing questionnaires to appeal to the interests of participants
- questionnaires coming from universities rather than other sources
