Questionnaires

Question 1

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 1

A list of questions, either online or on paper, designed by a researcher.

Question 2

What type of data do questionnaires tend to produce?

Answer 2

Quantitative data in the form of number/statistics.

Question 3

Before conducting a questionnaire, what should a researcher do?

Answer 3

• Conduct a “pilot study”, whereby a researcher conducts a “test run” of their method.
• Researchers also have to ensure they have “operationalised” their concepts. This is the process of defining concepts to make them into something measurable.

Question 4

If researchers fail to operationalise their concepts, how could it impact the validity and reliability of their data?

Answer 4

Lack of operationalisation could mean that concepts are not accurately measured (validity), and that each time they are used, they may be understood in a different way (reliability) . Pilot studies test this.

Question 5

What are the two types of questions?

Answer 5

Open and closed questions.

Question 6

What are open and closed questions?

Answer 6

• Closed questions are those with a limited number of responses, which are fixed by the researcher.
• Open questions allow a respondent to give their own answer, rather than choosing between fixed answers.

Question 7

Advantages of open questions.

Answer 7

• Respondents have more freedom to answer in their own words and in their own way.
• Good for researcher that wants to find out about feelings, values and attitudes.
• Participants are not limited in their answers to ones determined by a researcher, and can explain the reason for their answers.

Question 8

Disadvantages of open questions.

Answer 8

• Qualitative data is harder to quantify and analyse statistically.
• More difficulty to compare answers with other responses than if the answers were predetermined.

Question 9

Advantages of closed questions.

Answer 9

• Answers can be quickly and easily quantified into statistical form.
• Easy to complete in comparison to an open question.
• Quick, easy, and cheap to make for the researcher.
• Allows comparisons to be made.

Question 10

Disadvantages of closed questions.

Answer 10

• You cannot follow up questions to get more information.
• The respondent may not agree with all of the answers.
• The answer that the respondent wants to give may not be on the questionnaire.