Questionairres

Question 1

Define

Answer 1

Standardized questions to be completed

• interviews, self completion
• pre coded (A,B,C), open coded, online

Question 2

Ethical

Answer 2

Generally very ethical

Easy to gain informed consent.
Usually anonymous.

Sensitive questions (e.g., crime, income) may cause discomfort.

Question 3

Practical

Answer 3

Highly practical

Cheap and cost-effective.
Quick to distribute (especially online).
Can reach large numbers of people.

Designing clear questions takes skill.

Question 3

Reliable

Answer 3

High reliability

Standardized questions increase reliability.
Easy to replicate.

People may lie or give socially desirable answers.

Question 4

Valid

Answer 4

Low validity

Closed questions limit depth.
Social desirability bias lowers validity.

Question 5

Example

Answer 5

The Office for National Statistics runs the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
Asks people if they have been victims of crime.
Includes questions about fear of crime.
Mostly closed questions.
Large national sample.

Question 6

Representative

Answer 6

Potentially highly representative

Large samples increase generalisability.
Can reflect national populations.

Certain groups (e.g., elderly, very busy individuals) may not respond.

Question 7

How would theorists feel

Answer 7

Positivists strongly support questionnaires
They produce quantitative data.
They are reliable and replicable.
They allow large-scale comparisons.

Interpretivists criticise questionnaires
They restrict responses- lacking depth
They treat people like numbers rather than individuals.