Questionnaires

• What is the primary purpose of a survey?

  To gather information from a large sample
• How can surveys be conducted?

  By structured interviews and postal/online questionnaires
• What types of data can surveys produce?

  Quantitative and qualitative data, mainly quantitative
• What can surveys measure?

  Attitudes, social identity, beliefs, intentions, etc.
• What is a practical advantage of using surveys?

  They are geographically widespread
• What is one of the practical disadvantages of surveys?

  They are not very detailed
• Why can analyzing survey data be time-consuming?

  Because it requires processing large amounts of data
• What is an ethical advantage of using surveys?

  Respondents do not have to answer uncomfortable questions
• What is an ethical disadvantage of surveys?

  Some people may not be able to read
• What is one of the practical advantages of surveys regarding data?

  They can collect large amounts of data
• Why are surveys considered cheap?

  Because they require minimal resources to conduct
• How does the absence of an interviewer affect survey responses?

  It prevents respondents from altering their answers
• What is a common issue with survey questions?

  They may include leading questions
• What is a key characteristic of a well-structured questionnaire?

  It has a clear layout that is easy to follow
• How do the advantages and disadvantages of surveys compare?

  Surveys are quick and cheap but lack detail
• What are the dos of a questionnaire?


  • give clear instructions on how to complete the questions
  • have a consistent, clear layout
  • make the questions easy and clear to follow
  • ask for personal details at the end
  • explain what the research is and who you are
  • use simple language
  • provide multiple choice answers where appropriate
• What are the don'ts of a questionnaire?


  • don't make it too long
  • don't have too few categories available
  • don't use vague terms
  • don't ask embarrassing or personal questions
  • don't have categories that overlap
  • don't use technical terms
  • don't include leading questions
• What is a primary use of questionnaires in education research?

  Gathering large quantities of basic information
• How do researchers use questionnaires in education?

  To correlate factors like achievement and attendance
• What can schools provide for researchers in terms of sampling frames?

  Lists of pupils and staff
• Why might response rates for questionnaires be higher when in schools?

  Head teachers can pressure cooperation
• What type of samples do schools have readily available?

  Opportunity samples of pupils and teachers
• What is a limitation of using questionnaires with children?

  Children have shorter attention spans
• What is a challenge when operationalizing concepts for research with pupils?

  Abstract ideas are harder for young people to grasp
• Why might schools not provide the desired lists for research?

  They may not keep lists that reflect the researcher's interest
• What is a potential issue with the validity of questionnaires for children?

  Children may lack relevant life experiences
• What is a limitation of using structured questionnaires with pupils?

  They may not gather enough detailed information
• What are the practical issues of using questionnaires in education research?

  • Useful for quick, cheap data collection
  • Correlate achievement with school variables
  • Low response rates, but higher in schools
  • Short questionnaires are better for children
  • Difficulty in operationalizing abstract concepts
  • Schools may lack desired demographic lists
  • Validity concerns due to children's experiences