Questionnaires

Questionnaires

1. Definition

   • List of questions that several people are asked
     • That information can be collected about something
     • in a clear and unambiguous way
   • Benefits
     • Inexpensive to administer
     • Little training
     • Easily and quickly analysed

2. Types

   • Mail survey
     • The most common
     • Delivered by mail
     • Large amounts of data
     • Impersonal
     • Low responses rates
   • Group - administered questionnaire
     • Collecting data
       • from a sample of respondents
         • who can naturally be brought together for the purpose
     • High response rates
   • Household drop - off survey
     • Hybrid
       • Mail
       • Group - administered
     • Advantages
       • Clarify questions

3. Issues

   • Maximising response rates
     • Covering letter
       • Short
       • Explain the research in a clear and understandable way
     • Include a pre-paid return envelope
     • Offering something to the respondent
     • Questionnaire design and layout
   • Ideal lenght and time to complete
     • No > 20 min to complete
   • Stratified sampling
     • Establish population
       • sample that represents the whole
   • Web-based questionnaires
     • Inexpensive

4. Data analysis

   • Replies
     • Ticking boxes
     • Completing statements
       • Are coded
     • Providing written replies
   • Coding frames
     • Responses
       • Unique numerical indentifier
   • Software packing

5. Uses

   • Collection of vast amounts of data with minimal effort
   • Relationships between data
   • Protect respondent anonymity
   • Can be used time and time again to measure differences between groups of people.
   • Can enable analysis to be conducted extremely quickly and with low error rates

6. Limitations

   • Leading questions
   • Complicated questions
   • Irritating questions
   • Ambiguous or unclear questions
   • Too many open - ended questions