Research Methods - Questionnaires Flashcards
What is a key advantage of using questionnaires for data collection?
Practicality: Quick and cheap to gather data from many people
For example, Connor and Dewson sent out 4000 questionnaires.
How do questionnaires ensure reliability?
The same questions can be repeated in identical conditions, making the data reliable.
What is one benefit of using questionnaires for hypothesis testing?
Useful for analysing cause-and-effect relationships, which appeals to positivists.
What is meant by ‘detachment and objectivity’ in questionnaire research?
Researchers remain distant from the subjects, minimising bias.
How do large-scale questionnaires enhance representativeness?
They allow for more representative data, increasing the potential for generalisations.
What are ethical issues associated with questionnaires?
Respondents can choose not to answer sensitive questions, and anonymity is often guaranteed.
What is a practical problem commonly faced with questionnaire responses?
Responses are often brief and may not provide deep insights.
What is a significant challenge related to response rates in questionnaire research?
Postal questionnaires often have low response rates, leading to unrepresentative samples.
What does inflexibility in questionnaires refer to?
Once finalised, questions cannot be adjusted to explore new areas.
What is ‘snapshottism’ in the context of questionnaires?
Questionnaires provide a limited, one-time picture of social reality.
What is a disadvantage of detachment in questionnaire research?
Lack of personal interaction can result in a loss of depth and understanding.
What are two common issues that affect the accuracy of responses in questionnaires?
- Lying
- Forgetting
What does ‘imposing meaning’ refer to in questionnaire design?
Predefined answers can distort respondents’ true views by forcing them to fit into the researcher’s categories.
What is a challenge in operationalizing concepts for questionnaires?
It can be difficult to turn abstract ideas into measurable questions.
Why might schools provide a practical solution for sampling in research?
Schools provide ready-made lists (sampling frames) for creating representative samples.
