Unit 6 Flashcards
This type of question is one that the respondents answer in their own words
Open-ended question
This type of question is one that limits the respondents to certain alternatives
Closed-ended question
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of using open ended and closed ended questions in the survey?
The open ended question permits respondents to answer more completely and to reveal the reasoning behind their answers. Makes it more likely that the questionnaire will discover something not anticipated buys designers. Open-ended questions are harder to code because the answers are near to form and require more effort from the respondent and are more difficult for less articulate response to answer. Open-ended questions are more useful for smaller and preliminary studies
Closed ended questions are easier to code and analyze, there are fewer off-the-wall responses. Respondents do not have to think as hard or be able to articulate to formulate their answers. The disadvantages of closed ended questions are that the issues being studied may be too complex to reduce to a small set of alternatives, or the respondent may not agree with any of them, resulting in simplistic answers. Can you put words into the mouths of respondents, suggesting alternatives that they might never come up with themselves. Errors can happen for instance misinterpreting the question or a clerical error coding the data. The standardize Asian of open ended questions make some more suitable for larger studies
A characteristic of certain responses that causes people to choose that response even if it does not represent their true tendency or opinion. When respondents perceive one alternative as more socially acceptable than the other
Social desirability
The tendency to agree with the statement on the questionnaire, regardless of its content. Common with binary closed ended questions such as agree/disagree or true/false
Acquiescence
A question that asks for a rating of the extent of agreement or disagreement with the statement; a rating scale. Frequently measured on a seven point scale or nine point scale
Likert scale
Usef questionnaire items should have the following characteristics:
Be written language familiar to all respondents.
Be clear and specific. Define the terms and the context clearly. Make alternatives clear, exhaustive, and mutually exclusive in the case of closed ended questions.
Avoid any leading, loaded, or double-barreled questions, which would result in biases in responses
Be as concise as possible and present all conditional information prior to the key idea
Categories defined so that membership in one rules out membership in another
Mutually exclusive
Categories defined so that all possible cases will fall into one of them
Exhaustive
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mail surveys?
Advantages: low-cost, no interviewer bias, best for personal and sensitive topics where anonymity is preserved
Disadvantages: questions must be self-explanatory, little control over order of questions answered, response bias for example low response or return rate
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the personal interview?
Advantages: interviewer can motivate interviewees, clarify questions, and monitor order of questions answered. Higher response or return rate than in mail surveys. Possible to use of visual aid
Disadvantages: interview were biased, much more expensive than Mail or telephone surveys, difficulty reaching interviewees, potential interviewer affect where respondents say what they think the interviewer wants to hear. Supervision of interviewers more difficult
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the telephone survey?
Advantages: easier access to respondents, quick completion, tighter supervision of interviewers, low cost, and possibility of using computer-assisted interviews
Disadvantages: possible selection bias, only suitable for short straightforward surveys, possible interview were biased, telemarketing and donation solicitation and options to screen calls and to use voicemail have reduced excess ability. Impossible to use visual aids. Less anonymous than mail or web-based surveys
What are the vantages and disadvantages of using Internet surveys?
Advantages: efficient, low cost and speedy, potential to reach a large number of respondents of diverse backgrounds and from difficult to access populations. Can control sequence and branching of questions, and can check for invalid response is easily and consistently
Disadvantages: response bias the same as other methods, selection bias for instance accessibility to the Internet, websites for special interest groups. Difficulty controlling how the surveys completed alone or in groups, clarity of instructions, limiting distractions. Difficulty and checking variables about the respondent such as their gender or age that are of interest to the researcher
Population subgroups for who selection the researcher uses hit or miss methods
Haphazard sample
A non-random sample that is chosen for some characteristic that it possesses. It is not selected randomly but for some particular reason
Purpose of sample