Self-reporting data: Questionnaire design

Question 1

Closed Question

Answer 1

• Has a fixed number of possible answers

Question 2

Positive of Closed Question

Answer 2

• Easy to analyse because data is in numbers which can be summarised using averages as well as simple graphs
• This generally makes it easier to draw conclusion

Question 3

Negative of Closed Question

Answer 3

• May not permit people to express their precise feeling because the researcher determined the choice
• Therefore the data collected may be low in validity and tends not to uncover new insights

Question 4

Open Question

Answer 4

• Invites respondents to provide their own answers

Question 5

Positive of Open Question

Answer 5

• Provides rich details of how people behave because they are given free range to express themselves
• Participants can express what they actually think rather than being restricted by preconceived categories
• Increases the validity of the data collected

Question 6

Negative of Open Question

Answer 6

• Interpreting what people mean is likely to be subjective
• Each research may have a slightly different view of what a participants actually meant

Question 7

Rank Scale Question

Answer 7

• A kind of closed question where respondents are asked to give an assessment of their views using a scale

Question 8

Positive of Rank Scale Question

Answer 8

• Produces quantitative data which is easy to analyse or represent in graphs
• It is also easy to draw straightforward conclusion

Question 9

Negative of Rank Scale Question

Answer 9

• Social desirability bias may be an issue in terms of the validity of responses given