Questionnaires

• The experimental method includes laboratory experiments and field experiments. There's a deliberate attempt to manipulate and control
• Non experimental method includes observations, questionnaires, interviews and case studies. There is very little control
• A disadvantage of a non experimental method is it can be hard to establish a cause and effect link between variables due to lack of control.
• Questionnaires are a self report data collection method. They have carefully structured questions given to participants in a standardised manner.
• Overall research method is when the questionnaires are being used as the main research method. There may be no hypothesis only a question.
• Data collection technique in an experiment is when an experiment might wish to assess the effects on an anti smoking educational programme. Then expose the participants to this (some not) and later ask them to fill in a form on attitudes towards smoking
• Researcher effects is when subconsciously or consciously the research manipulates the results to adhere to their preconceived ideas. The failure to remain objective. Lowers the validity
• Fit for purpose means questionaries should be to the point and ask as few questions as possible.
• Filler questions are to distract or hide the main purpose of the study to lower demand characteristics
• sequence of questions like beginning the test with easier questions to leave the harder ones for later.
• Clarity is questions should be clear and concise to avoid confusion (short questions)
• Avoiding bias is to have questions remain objective. They should not make one answer more desirable than another and be worded in a non-offensive way
• Leading questions are when the correct answer is prompted by the way its worded
• Sociably desirable answers are a reflection of what they SHOULD say to see themselves in a better/postive light
• Open questions are qualitative data and aim to get an un constrained free answer in their own words
• Closed questions are quantitive and have a set range of answers (fixed response) no extending of the answer
• Closed questions can be..

  Categories of response- ticking the appropriate box

  Identifying characteristics- Circling characteristics

  Likert scale- How strongly you agree with statement

  Ranked scale item- A number scale

  Semantic different scales- Mark on a line indicate their feelings.
• Internal validity can be a problem with questionnaires as the questions may be measuring the same variables to avoid this use the split half method
• Participants may have a response bias where they mark extremes
• A strength of questionnaires is they have high reliability a test reset method can test this
• The test reset method is when the same people take the tests at different times and if results are consistat they are reliable
• A strength of questionnaires is the standardised procedures act as controls on extraneous variables
• A strength of questionnaires is the researcher does not have to be present (no researcher effects)
• A strength of questionnaires is they are normally closed questions so data is easy to analyse
• A strength of questionnaires is they are quick
• A strength of questionnaires are they can be a way to see what people actually think and feel. (get into peoples brains)
• A weakness of questionnaires is when they're closed questions they limit the validity due to lack of expression
• A weakness of questionnaires is there may be demand characteristics or socially desirable answers
• A weakness of questionnaires is when participants may misunderstand questions so validity is questioned
• A weakness of questionnaires the way they are administered may affect the results e. handed out and are waiting nearby for results and then in an office with a box to put them in. (different pressures)
• Overall research method is when it is the main method of research. They normal have a research question instead of a hypothesis
• Questionnaires are used as a self report data collection method
• Data collection technique in an experiment is something to back up the main research method
• Questionnaires in order to be objective and valid must have

  • Fit for purpose - to the point and as few questions as possible
  • Filler questions - irrelevant questions to distract from the main purpose of the research (reduces demand characteristics but rises in ethical problems)
  • Sequence of questions - Easy ones first
  • Standardised procedures - The same questions and administration for everyone
  • Pilot studies - tested on a small group of people
  • Ethical issues - avoid psychological harm confidentiality / privacy
• Objectivity to be maintained when analysing
• No leading questions - its worded in a way to encourage a particular answer
• Socially desirable answers - reflect what people think they should ought to be like