Questionnaires

• What are questionnaires?


  Set out questions devised for the purpose of statistical research or a survey
• Why do researchers use questionnaires?

  • Can test hypotheses
  • Statistics can be produced
  • Generalisation is achievable
  • Causality can be measured
  • Standardised questions
  • Can operationalise concepts
  • Reliable
• What are the characteristics of a good questionnaire?

  • Relevant to the research
  • Questions clear an easy to understand
  • As short as possible
• What are the advantages of using questionnaires?

  • Large sample reached = representative
  • Less time consuming
  • Anonymous
  • Personal influence limited
  • Quantitative data produced
  • Reliable data produced
• What are the disadvantages of using questionnaires?

  • Low response rate = reduced representativeness
  • Answers received may be incomplete
  • Data may be invalid due to dishonesty
  • Anonymous
  • Can limit possible answers a participant can give
• What are the types of questions that can be given in a questionnaire?

  • Closed questions
  • Open questions
  • Multiple choice questions
  • Scaled questions
• What did LaPiere do in 1934?


  He surveyed hotel owners with the aim of obtaining “comparative data on the degree of French and English apathy towards dark-skinned people”. He then travelled to 251 hotels with a young Chinese couple
• What did LaPiere find out from his surveying in 1934?

  There was widespread prejudice against letting rooms to dark-skinned people, yet people were tolerable to other races of lighter skin tone whenever they were accompanied by a white individual