Social Research Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Home
Citation reference: Harvey, L., 2012-24, Social Research Glossary, Quality Research International, http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/socialresearch/
This is a dynamic glossary and the author would welcome any e-mail suggestions for additions or amendments.
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Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a structured means of posing a standardised set of consistent predetermined questions in a given order to respondents for self-completion in a sample survey.
Introduction
They are usually directed at individuals although they may collect information and opinions from small groups (such as a family unit).
Questionnaires are usually printed on paper. They may also be accessed on a visual diplay unit, or other information technology medium. The term questionnaire is usually reserved for sets of questions that are designed to be self-completed by the respondent. Structured sets of questions that are asked by an interviewer are usually referred to as interview schedules.
However, some uses of the term questionnaire include interview schedules. The two are thus sometimes differentiated by terms such as self-completion questionnaire and interviewer-administered questionnaire.
Questionnaire design
Most questionnaire design attempts a logical flow to the subject of enquiry which makes sense to the respondent. Some questionnaires (particularly those used in psychological tests) deliberately randomise or scramble up the question order.
Pilot
Logical sequence
standardised
Wording: ambivalence, leading sequences etc.
Type of questions
Closed questions
Close questions are those where the respondent's answer are restricted to a list of alternatives, each of which has usually been assigned a code in advance. Close questions are sometimes called structured questions.
Closed questions are used when scaling is involved.
Open questions
Open questions allow the respondent to write, in their own words, the answer to the question in the space provided on the questionnaire form.
Types of questionnaire
Self completion questionnaire
Mailed questionnaires
Interviewer-administered questionnaire
A questionnaire completed in the presence of an interviewer. The interviewer may also verbally ask some or all of the questions.
A questionnaire which is completed by the interviewer as a result of asking questions (and thus involves no self-completion) is more usually referred to as an interview schedule.
Questionnaire A printed research instrument employed to obtain desired information from a respondent.
Questionnaires can be classified as both, quantitative and qualitative method depending on the nature of questions. Specifically, answers obtained through closed-ended questions with multiple choice answer options are analyzed using quantitative methods and they may involve pie-charts, bar-charts and percentages. Answers obtained to open-ended questionnaire questions are analyzed using qualitative methods and they involve discussions and critical analyses without use of numbers and calculations.
For a standard 15,000-20,000 word business dissertation, including 25-40 questions in questionnaires will usually suffice. Questions need be formulated in an unambiguous and straightforward manner and they should be presented in a logical order.
Advantages of questionnaires include increased speed of data collection, low or no cost requirements, and higher levels of objectivity compared to many alternative methods of primary data collection. However, questionnaires have certain disadvantages such as selection of random answer choices by respondents without properly reading the question. Moreover, there is usually no possibility for respondents to express their additional thoughts about the matter due to the absence of a relevant question.
There are following types of questionnaires:
Computer questionnaire. Respondents are asked to answer the questionnaire which is sent by mail. The advantages of the computer questionnaires include their inexpensive price, time-efficiency, and respondents do not feel pressured, therefore can answer when they have time, giving more accurate answers. However, the main shortcoming of the mail questionnaires is that sometimes respondents do not bother answering them and they can just ignore the questionnaire.
Telephone questionnaire. Researcher may choose to call potential respondents with the aim of getting them to answer the questionnaire. The advantage of the telephone questionnaire is that, it can be completed during the short amount of time. The main disadvantage of the phone questionnaire is that it is expensive most of the time. Moreover, most people do not feel comfortable to answer many questions asked through the phone and it is difficult to get sample group to answer questionnaire over the phone.
In-house survey. This type of questionnaire involves the researcher visiting respondents in their houses or workplaces. The advantage of in-house survey is that more focus towards the questions can be gained from respondents. However, in-house surveys also have a range of disadvantages which include being time consuming, more expensive and respondents may not wish to have the researcher in their houses or workplaces for various reasons.
Mail Questionnaire. This sort of questionnaires involve the researcher to send the questionnaire list to respondents through post, often attaching pre-paid envelope. Mail questionnaires have an advantage of providing more accurate answer, because respondents can answer the questionnaire in their spare time. The disadvantages associated with mail questionnaires include them being expensive, time consuming and sometimes they end up in the bin put by respondents.
Questionnaires can include the following types of questions:
Open question questionnaires. Open questions differ from other types of questions used in questionnaires in a way that open questions may produce unexpected results, which can make the research more original and valuable. However, it is difficult to analyze the results of the findings when the data is obtained through the questionnaire with open questions.
Multiple choice questions. Respondents are offered a set of answers they have to choose from. The downsize of questionnaire with multiple choice questions is that, if there are too many answers to choose from, it makes the questionnaire, confusing and boring, and discourages the respondent to answer the questionnaire.
Dichotomous Questions. This type of questions gives two options to respondents – yes or no, to choose from. It is the easiest form of questionnaire for the respondent in terms of responding it.
Scaling Questions. Also referred to as ranking questions, they present an option for respondents to rank the available answers to the questions on the scale of given range of values (for example from 1 to 10).
Kirklees Council (undated) Corporate Research & Consultation Team introduce questionnaires as follows:
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 self- completion 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.
University of Surrey (undated) lists the following advantages and disadvantages of using questionnaires:
The advantages of questionnaires:
- Practical
- 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 way
- Can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to its validity and reliability
The results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and easily quantified by either a researcher or through the use of a software package - Can be analysed more 'scientifically' and objectively than other forms of research
- When data has been quantified, it can be used to compare and contrast other research and may be used to measure change
- Positivists believe that quantitative data can be used to create new theories and / or test existing hypotheses
The disadvantages of questionnaires
- Is argued to be inadequate to understand some forms of information - i.e. changes of emotions, behaviour, feelings etc.
- Phenomenologists state that quantitative research is simply an artificial creation by the researcher, as it is asking only a limited amount of information without explanation
- Lacks validity
- There is no way to tell how truthful a respondent is being
- There is no way of telling how much thought a respondent has put in
- The respondent may be forgetful or not thinking within the full context of the situation
- 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 acknowledged
- 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
The process of coding in the case of open ended questions opens a great possibility of subjectivity by the researcher
See also
Researching the Real World Section 8.3.6 – 8.3.11
Research Methology, 2019, 'Questionnaires', available at https://research-methodology.net/research-methods/survey-method/questionnaires-2/, accessed 13 June 2019.
Schaefer, R. T., 2017, 'Glossary' in Sociology: A brief introduction, Fourth Edition, originally c. 2000, McGraw-Hill. Available at http://novellaqalive.mhhe.com/sites/0072435569/student_view0/glossary.html, site dated 2017, accessed 11 June 2017, 'not found' 1 June 2019.
University of Surrey, undated, Module 9 : Introduction to Research 9. The advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires
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