questionnaires

• questionnaires / surveys

  -involve asking P about their attitudes, behaviours, intentions

  -allows researcher to gain into from large number of people

  -quick & efficient

  -post, phone, internet
• open questions

  -no fixed answer

  -longer, detailed

  -valid date as answer more true & accurate
• closed questions

  -fixed range of answers

  -easily compared / analysed

  -useful when trying to identify patterns & similarities

  -easier to test for reliability
• strengths

  -cost effective

  -easy to analyse

  -can collect large amounts of data quickly

  -easy to replicate method
• weaknesses

  -can't clarify meanings of questions

  -low level of detail in data

  -vulnerable to social desirability data

  -vulnerable to response bias
• social desirability bias

  -form of demand characteristic

  -P gives answer that paints them in positive light
• what do lie detection questions test for?

  social desirability
• response bias

  -occurs when P answers question in particular pattern / preference

  -maybe due to not reading properly
• what do filler questions do?

  hide main purpose of questionnaire
• avoid :

  -leading questions

  -ambiguity

  -emotive language

  -jargon

  -double-barrelled questions

  -negatives

  -complex questions

  -impossible questions
• include :

  -filler questions

  -easy questions

  -lie detection questions
• be aware of :

  -the tendency to say 'yes'

  -use an even rating scale to avoid Ps choosing middle rating