Questionnaires

Questionnaires

1. Open ended: Allow respondents to choose own answer

2. Set of written questions that are either given to respondents to complete or are posted to them

3. Closed-ended: Give definite answers.

   • Preferred: 1. Help researchers achieve what they want: Clear, definite answers, quickly obtained, easily Quantified

4. Functions:

   • Operationalise a concept
     • Process by which abstract idea is broken down into logical subheadings
   • Large number of questions asked from large group of people in short time
   • No Interviewer Bias
   • Trends identified, Hypothesis tested
   • Data reliable, generalisable

5. Postal

   • Reach largest group
   • Low response rate
   • Who return must have interest in research topic

6. By Hand

7. CRITICS

   • Interactionists:
     • Lack Validity
       • The meaning respondents give to their answers may vary
         • What may matter to researched may not be significant to respondent
           • A very small part of respondents POV is revealed
             • Researcher gains little or no knowledge of how they interact with others and the world
               • Respondent not involved in research
   • Rely on goodwill of respondents
   • Give respondents no chance to ask questions
   • Expect certain level of literacy
   • Assumes respondents mean what they say