Instruments

Instruments

1. Definition

   • are simply devices for obtaining information relevant to your research project, and there are many alternatives from which to choose.

2. Types

   • The types of research interview are discussed along with the use of recording devices in interview situations. As interviews are traditionally resource- intensive, we provide some guidance on sampling and selecting interviewees.
     • Types of questionnaire
       • There are three broad types of questionnaire – the mail survey, the group-administered questionnaire, and the household drop-off survey.

3. Issues

   • Where the questions concern sensitive issues, respondents seem to prefer the standard paper- based instrument.

4. Data analysis

   • As a research technique, content analysis has been used in a variety of ways and within a number of contexts. It has been successfully used to analyse text and solve issues of disputed authorship of academic papers

5. Uses

   • In research work examining the wording of questions posed in large national health surveys in the USA, ambiguities were found in a number of the key questions

6. Limitations

   • Limitations are addressed as well as specific design issues peculiar to this research instrument. Guidance on developing and achieving high response rates is included before we move on to consider the use of web- based questionnaires.