Session 4: Measurement sclaes and questinaore development Flashcards
When choosing an existing measure (what are the alternatives?)
- most common one
- one with best evidence of reliability and validity
- one that best measures a particular aspect of a construct
- one that would be easiest to use
What is survey research?
Survey resaerch is a quantitative and qualitative method with two important characteristics
- variables of interest are measured using self-reports
- strong preference for large random samples
Types of survey items
- Open-ended items
2. Close-ended items
Open-ended items
allow repondent to answer in whatever way they want
- best to use when the answer is unsure or for quantities which can easily be converted to categories later
Close ended items
Provide several response options that respondents must choose from
- best to use when we have a good idea of different responses that participants might make or when we are interested in a well-definied variable or construct
Rating scales
number of responses usually ranke from 3 to 11
- unipolar scales: only one construct is tested
- bipolar sclaes: there is a dichtomous spectrum
Survey responding as psychological process
- question interpretaion
- information retrieve
- judgement formation
- response formatting
- response editing
Writing survey items - BRUSO
questinaires item should be brief, relevant, unambiguous, specific, objective
Writing survey items
- close-ended items: create an appropriate response scale
- categorical items: mutually exclusive and exhaustive
- rating sclale: 5-7, most extreme options should be balance around
Formatting the survey
- Introduction
- Questinaire items
- Expression of appreciation
Different ways to conduct surveys
- in-person
- by telephone
- though mail/on the internet
Non -response bias
occurs when poeple do not respond to the survey differ in important ways from poeple who do respond
- way to reduze bias is maximize the response rates
How can you maximize the response rates?
- using in-person interviwes
- prenitifying respondents
- sending reminders to participants
- constructing questinaires that are short and easy to complete
- offering incentives