Questionnaires Introduction A questionnaire is simply a tool for collecting and recording information about a particular issue of interest. It is mainly made up of a list of questions, but should also include clear instructions and space for answers or administrative details. Questionnaires should always have a definite purpose that is related to the objectives of the research, and it needs to be clear from the outset how the findings will be used. Respondents also need to be made aware of the purpose of the research wherever possible, and should be told how and when they will receive feedback on the findings. Structured questionnaires are usually associated with quantitative research, i.e. research that is concerned with numbers (how many? how often? how satisfied?). Within this context, questionnaires can be used in a variety of survey situations, for example postal, electronic, face-to-face and telephone. Postal and electronic questionnaires are known as selfcompletion questionnaires, i.e. respondents complete them by themselves in their own time. Face-to-face (F2F) and telephone questionnaires are used by interviewers to ask a standard set of questions and record the responses that people give them. Questionnaires that are used by interviewers in this way are sometimes known as interview schedules.

Questionnaires are commonly used:

To collect factual information in order to classify people and their circumstances To gather straightforward information relating to peoples behaviour To look at the basic attitudes/opinions of a group of people relating to a particular issue To measure the satisfaction of customers with a product or service To collect baseline information which can then be tracked over time to examine changes

Questionnaires should not be used:

To explore complex issues in great depth To explore new, difficult or potentially controversial issues (NB: longer, relatively unstructured depth interviews would be more appropriate here) As an easy option which will require little time or effort (a common error)

Advantages of Using Questionnaires1. Practical2. Large amounts of information can be collected from a large number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way3. Can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to its validity and reliability4. The results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and easily quantified by either a researcher or through the use of a software package5. Can be analysed more 'scientifically' and objectively than other forms of research6. When data has been quantified, it can be used to compare and contrast other research and may be used to measure change7. Positivists believe that quantitative data can be used to create new theories and / or test existing hypothesesDisadvantages of Using Questionnaires1. Is argued to be inadequate to understand some forms of information - i.e. changes of emotions, behaviour, feelings etc.2. Phenomenologists state that quantitative research is simply an artificial creation by the researcher, as it is asking only a limited amount of information without explanation3. Lacks validity4. There is no way to tell how truthful a respondent is being5. There is no way of telling how much thought a respondent has put in6. The respondent may be forgetful or not thinking within the full context of the situation7. People may read differently into each question and therefore reply based on their own interpretation of the question - i.e. what is 'good' to someone may be 'poor' to someone else, therefore there is a level of subjectivity that is not acknowledged8. There is a level of researcher imposition, meaning that when developing the questionnaire, the researcher is making their own decisions and assumptions as to what is and is not important...therefore they may be missing something that is of importance

Construction of a Questionnaire

1. Doing Library Research. Do some library research among studies similar to yours. There may be some questionnaires similar to what you want to use. They may serve as guides in constructing yours.2. Talking to knowledgeable people. Talk to people who have some knowledge about the construction of questionnaires. You may be able to get some ideas from them.3. Mastering the guidelines. There are guidelines in the construction of a questionnaire. You learn these from books and similar studies in your library search and from your interviews with knowledgeable people. Master the guidelines.4. Writing the questionnaire. Write the questionnaire following the guidelines as closely as possible.5. Editing the questionnaire. After the questionnaire has been finished, show it for correction and suggestions for improvement to people who are known to possess adequate knowledge in the construction of questionnaires, especially to your adviser if you have one.6. Rewriting the questionnaire. Rewrite the questionnaire according to the corrections and suggestions.7. Pretesting the questionnaire. This is called a dry run. This is the process of measuring the effectiveness, validity, and reliability of the questionnaire, and determining the clarity of the items, the difficulty of answering the questions, the proper length of time in answering, ease in tabulating response, and other problems.

After the administration of the pretest, respondents must be interviewed to determine the following:a. Are the directions, statements, questions and/or items clear and equivocal?b. Do the questions gather the intended data? Are the replies given those called for?c. What difficulties are encountered in answering the questions?d. Are the respondents given adequate number of options or choices from which they choose their responses?e. Is the questionnaire too long that it creates boredom or is it too short that the information gathered is not adequate?f. What items should be eliminated or improved? What other items should be included?

Some of the questions that may be asked to the pretest respondents are the following:

a. Were the directions very clear to you? Were you able to do exactly what the directions told you to do?b. Did you understand completely the questions or items? c. What difficulties did you meet in answering the questions?d. Are the number of options from which you selected your response enough?e. Is the questionnaire too long?f. What suggestions can you give to improve the questionnaire?8. Writing the questionnaire in its final form. After making the proper corrections, adjustments, and revisions according to the results of the dry run or pretesting, the questionnaire should be now in its final form.

Types of questions asked in survey questionnaire.

A. According to form:

1. The free-answer type. This type is also called the open form, open-ended, subjective, unrestricted, essay, and unguided response type. The respondent answers the question in his own words and in his own way.

2. The guided response type. This is also called the closed form or restricted type. The respondent is guided in making his reply. There are two kinds of this type: recall and recognition types;a. Recall type. The replies are recalled.b. Recognition types. The possible responses are given and respondent selects his answer. There are three types: dichotomous, multiple choice, and multiple response.(1) Dichotomous. There are only two options and one is selected(2) Multiple choice. Only one answer is chosen from those given as options.(3) Multiple responses. Two or more options may be chosen.

B. According to the kind of data asked fora. Descriptive (verbal) datab. Quantified (numerical) datac. Intensity of feeling, emotion, or attituded. Degree of judgemente. Understandingf. Reasoning

References:https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/yoursay/Questionnaires.pdfK. Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1959), reprinted (2004) by Routledge, Taylor & FrancisS. Ackroyd and J. A. Hughes, Data Collection in Context (1981) Longman