Questionnaires

• What is a questionnaire?

  A document with pre-set questions that can be sent to anyone, anywhere and that respondents complete on their own. Answers are coded and collated into numerical data so that relationships can be identified. Some open questions may be used to get more insight if necessary.
• Types of questionnaires:

  • Online
  • Postal
  • In person
• Styles of questions:

  • Closed questions: have pre-set questions, they are coded so that responses can be quantified into statistics, produce quantitative data, are easy and quick to answer, can be limiting to the respondent, tick all that apply.
  • Open questions: require the respondent to answer in their own words; more than one word, produces qualitative data, more time consuming, difficult to collate & analyse data, respondents have more freedom in their responses.
• Question type problems:

  • Limited response options: forcing people to lie - reduces validity of the data and therefore the response rate.
  • Leading questions: forcing people into a particular response which reduces validity and objectivity.
• Representativeness and response rate in questionnaires:

  Although questionnaires can draw on a wide geographical area and be sent anywhere and to anyone, meaning that the data is representative, this does not mean everyone will respond to questionnaires.

  • Most likely to respond: non-working people and older people as they have more time.
  • Least likely to respond: busy working people and those who are less interested (young people/parents)
• PET advantages of questionnaires:

  Practical: relatively low cost, quick and easy way to gather a large amount of data, can be sent to anyone & anywhere, data is easy to collate due to number of closed questions.

  Ethical: ethically sound as they gain informed consent and it ensures anonymity.

  Theoretical: can ensure validity in some topic areas by offering anonymity, researcher can be detached (good for positivists), standardised procedure, large scale.
• PET disadvantages for questionnaires:

  Practical: inflexibility as once questions are set they cant be changed, low response rate, can be quite difficult to operationalise concepts, costs could increase if an incentive is needed.

  Ethical: no ethical disadvantages!

  Theoretical: low validity as respondents may lie or forget an answer, answers are based on respondent's preconceptions rather than reality, lack of verstehen, tells us 'what' but not 'why'.
• Who prefers to use questionnaires?

  Positivists are in favour of this method because of its strengths: objectivity, detachment and reliability. However interpretivists reject questionnaires as they cant achieve verstehen, validity that is strong or an in-depth understanding.
• Strengths & limitations of using self-completed questionnaires:

  • more likely to get responses, can explain questions to respondent, more validity.
  • However there is a lack of honesty, some respondents may lie, some may feel pressure, time of day can affect responses, lack of anonymity.
• Strengths & limitations of using online questionnaires:

  • cheap, can ensure anonymity, quick to send out, data can be collated easier.
  • However not many people have access to the internet.
• Strengths & limitations of using Postal questionnaires:

  • more accessible and inclusive and has anonymity.
  • However people may forget about them meaning a low return rate and it can be expensive.