self report - Questionnaires

Question 1

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 1

A researcher instrument consisting of a series of written questions designed to gather information from respondents

Question 2

What are open questions?

Answer 2

Questions that allow respondents to answer in as much or little detail as they want. It doesn’t require a set answer

Question 3

What does an open question provide?

Answer 3

Qualitative data

Question 4

Open questions evaluation

Answer 4

Strengths
- Rich in detail
- Can help to understand
behaviour fully
Weaknesses
- Difficult to analyse
- Time consuming

Question 5

What are closed questions?

Answer 5

Questions that provide respondents with a set of predefined answers to choose from

Question 6

What do closed questions provide?

Answer 6

Quantitative data

Question 7

What are the types of closed questions?

Answer 7

Fixed choice, Likert scale, semantic differential and rating scale

Question 8

Fixed choice questions

Answer 8

Questions that provide a limited range of answers. The respondent selects the answer that applies.

Question 9

Fixed choice evaluation

Answer 9

Strengths
- Easier to analyse as limited
choice of responses
- Analysis should be more
objective
Weaknesses
- Answers may not reflect the
respondents true feelings
- Narrow range and lacks quality
- Low validity

Question 10

Likert scale

Answer 10

Questions that typically ask people to indicate their level of agreement with a statement on a multiscale

Question 11

Likert scale evaluation

Answer 11

Strengths
- Shows the respondent’s extent
of agreement
- easy to analyse and compare
Weaknesses
- May show central tendency
bias
- Still may not indicate their true
feelings
- May be hard to interpret

Question 12

Semantic differential

Answer 12

Questions which ask to rate a concept on a scale between two bipolar adjectives

Question 13

Semantic differential evaluation

Answer 13

Strengths
- Answers are easy to analyse
and compare
Weaknesses
- Respondents may interpret the
positions on the scale
subjectively from other people.
- Central tendency bias

Question 14

Rating scale

Answer 14

Questions that ask to assign a value, typically on a numerical scale.

Question 15

Rating scale evaluation

Answer 15

Strengths
- More insight with qualitative
data
- Comparisons can be made
between respondents.
Weaknesses
- Central tendency bias

Question 16

Questionnaire dos

Answer 16

• Ensure you brief respondents
  at the start of the questionnaire
• Ensure the purpose and the
  way the data will be used is
  clear as well as who you are
• Ensure questions aren’t
  ambiguous or misleading.
• Ensure simple language is used

Question 17

Questionnaire don’ts

Answer 17

• Don’t have overlapping
• Don’t have too few choices
• Don’t ask for personal details
  (only if required at the end)

Question 18

Questionnaire strengths

Answer 18

• Relatively cheap
• Quick way to gather large
  amounts of data
• Completely private - More likely
  to be honest

Question 19

Questionnaire weaknesses

Answer 19

• Social desirability issues
• Can lack generalisability
• may be flawed if questions are
  poorly designed
• Cannot get clarification on the
  meaning of questions. So can’t
  respond accurately (reduces
  validity).