W6 - Methods and Tools for Data Collection

• Questionnaire


  A structured instrument consisting a series of questions.

  • Types: Open format, closed format, dichotomous, multiple choice, cafeteria, rank order, rating, likert
• Open format questions


  Questions which provide opportunity to the respondents to express their opinions and answers in their own way
• Closed format questions


  Any questions for which a researcher provide the participants with options from which to choose a response
• Dichotomous questions 


  Participants are required to make a choice between TWO responses
• Multiple choice question


  Respondents are required to make a choice between more than two response alternatives
• Cafeteria questions


  A special type of multiple choice questions that ask respondents to select a response that most closely corresponds to their views
• Rank order questions


  These questions ask respondents to rank the respondents from most favorable to least favorable.
• Likert questions


  It help to know how strongly the respondents agree with a particular statement
• Methods of questionnaire administration

  • Postal
  • Phone
  • Email
  • Personal
• Guidelines for a good questionnaire

  • It must be developed exactly in accordance with study objectives
  • It should begin with instructions for the respondents to provide responses
  • It should be concise, precise, and brief
  • Language should be according to the respondents knowledge about a particular one
  • Avoid professional jargons
  • As far as possible open ended questions should be avoided
  • Avoid questions with difficult concepts