Questionnaires

• Questionnaires

  A list of set questions based around a certain topic; Positivists favour fixed-choice closed questions as it allows them to produce statistical data that can be analysed, this is then good for testing theories and producing reliable data. Interpretivists favour open-ended questions which gain more depth, better for identifying meanings and motives- producing valid data.
• Practical Advantages

  Questionnaires are quick, cheap and can gather large amounts of data from large groups- the data is much quicker to quantify. Connor and Dewson were able to post 4,000 students at 14 HE institutions around the country to identify factors influencing the working class to attend university.
• Detachment and Objectivity

  They are unbiased through their minimal personal involvement- postal questionnaires are completed at a distance which means there is no contact, it maintains objectivity and ensures answers aren't impacted by researcher bias.
• Hypothesis-Testing

  Useful for testing hypothesis statements, allowing researchers to identify possible correlations about causes and effects- making them attractive to Positivists.
• Low Response Rate

  Especially in postal questionnaires, Hite sent out 100,000 questionnaires to Americans regarding 'love, passion, and emotional violence' (this is socially sensitive) but only 4.5% were returned. Higher response rates are only obtained if follow-up questionnaires are sent, but this increases time and money, so often inaccurate generalisations are made- as only those highly passionate or those who live untypical lives respond; distorting the representativeness of data.
• Detachment

  Interpretivist Cicourel argues that data from questionnaires lacks validity; it doesn't give a full picture of what is being studied- this can only be obtained through methods that allow us to be close to subjects and share their meanings, seeing the world through their eyes- not detached as this means there is no way of clarifying meanings of questions or dealing with misunderstandings- as interpretations of wording vary across individuals.
• Imposing Researcher's Meaning

  (Links to Feminism, Graham)

  Shipman argues that when researchers categories aren't like that of the respondents, a new force then distorts their own meanings and concepts, this undermines the validity as the researcher has failed to uncover their own views, instead make them select an option which they deem as important.