Questionnaires

Question 1

questionnaires

Answer 1

list of pre-set questions

respondents supply answers by filling the responses themselves/interviewer

Question 2

questionnaires - who is this favoured by?

Answer 2

positivists - analyse data scientifically/objectively

cheap, fast efficient method for obtaining large amounts of quantifiable data on a large sample

Question 3

questionnaires - pilot survey

Answer 3

ensures time and money not wasted on poorly designed questionnaire

Question 4

questionnaires - must be made as easy as possible

Answer 4

• clearly laid out
• well printed
• instructions easily to understand/follow
• no. of questions limited
• simplest first, complicated last; so people now worn out
• alternative answers so ability to express themselves

Question 5

questionnaires - clear language and avoid leading questions

Answer 5

• LQ produce invalid results
• simple, everyday language
• respondents able to answer accurately
• not offensive

Question 6

questionnaires - pre-coded/closed questionnaires

Answer 6

highly structured with limited number of multiple-choice answers

Question 7

questionnaires - advantages of pre-coded/closed

Answer 7

• quick to complete
• produces standardised quantitative data
• reliable
• enables comparison

Question 8

questionnaires - disadvantages of pre-coded/closed

Answer 8

• meaning of questions unclear
• imposition problem:researcher imposes their views on people, strict limit on answers; respects unable to develop their answers (validity)

Question 9

questionnaires - open-ended questionnaires

Answer 9

unstructured questionnaires with no pre-set choice of answers

Question 10

questionnaires - advantages of open-ended

Answer 10

• valid data; respondents can express what they mean

- more detail/depth

Question 11

questionnaires - disadvantages of open-ended

Answer 11

• difficult to quantify results as meaning unclear

- difficult to compare results

Question 12

questionnaires - postal/mail or online self-completion questionnaires

Answer 12

questionnaires left with respondent

Question 13

questionnaires - advantages of self-completion

Answer 13

• cheap method of collecting over wide geographical area
• results obtained quickly
• • people reply at their leisure; more precise answers
• personal/sensitive questions answered truthfully
• no interviewer bias

Question 14

questionnaires - disadvantages of self-completion

Answer 14

• non response affects representativeness/validity
• no interviewer to explain question
• forgetfulness, dishonesty give invalid replies
• no way of knowing whether right person completed questions