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QUESTIONNAIRE
Unit 4 (3) ๏ By questionnaire we mean a set of questions developed in an organised and ordered manner for gaining information from the people in relation to a given problem. ๏ Questionnaire method of data collection is the tool, which is more frequently used in โmail survey researchโ than any other method of data collection. ๏ A mail survey research is that branch of scientific investigation, which studies the universe by selecting a sample from it. ๏ In survey research one attempts to discover the relative incidence, distribution and inter-relation of sociological and psychological variables. ๏ Though the approach and technique of survey research can be used on any sets of objects that can be well defined, survey research mainly focuses on people, the vital facts of people, and their belonging, opinions, attitudes, motivations, memory, behaviour, actions, inter-actions and even future plans. ๏ The questionnaire is the best tool for collecting information in all above areas, though other types of methods like the interview method based on schedules or other, the questionnaire method is better as it covers a larger population in a shorter time. ๏ The main difference between collecting information through questionnaire in mail survey and an interview study based upon schedule is the manner through which information is collected. ๏ In mail surveys the per cent of return is small i.e. between 20 per cent and 40 per cent on the average, as compared with interviews which typically result in about 95 per cent return. ๏ The users of mail surveys are almost always faced with the question of how to estimate the effects the non-respondents may have had on the results.
Functions of Questionnaire: Questionnaire method, as a tool of scientific inquiry, fulfils several purposes or functions. They are; (a) Measurements, (b) Description, (c) Comparison, and (d) Inference. Measurement: ๏ Similar to other methods of data collection the questionnaire method also aims to measure the sociological variables. ๏ Through it we collect information about individual or group characteristics like sex, age, height, weight, years of education, occupation, income, etc. ๏ On the basis of measuring these characteristics, through questionnaire, we are able to desire conclusions about more abstract social distance, attitude, and perceptions of group cohesiveness. etc. ๏ However, it is easier to measure accurately the more concrete concepts like, age, sex, income, weight etc. Description: ๏ On the basis of the measurement achieved of the specified characteristics, we are able to provide description of a given population. ๏ Through questionnaire we are able achieve more concrete numerical measurement of characteristics. It becomes easier to describe the population characteristics in more specific forms. ๏ All this helps in more specific comparison of different samples of related populations. Inference: ๏ It helps to infer about the total population on the basis of sample studies. ๏ The description achieved through it help not only in better understanding of the people but at the same time it also helps in explaining why and how peopleโs attitude, beliefs, motivations, behaviour etc vary from one group to another. ๏ Which means that on the basis of such descriptive information we are able to find out association or correlation between different factors. ๏ However, there are several factors, which create difficulty in the measurement of social characteristics as accurately as found in natural
Advantages: ๏ Fixed responses are easy to reply to score and to code. ๏ No writing is required on the part of the respondent. Thus it helps in acquiring answers quickly. Dis-advantages: There is a possibility that the researchers may fail to provide with all relevant response alternatives. Open end Response: It consists of questions that are written in specific language but the respondents are free to give answers in their own words. Advantages: ๏ Useful in cases where the researchers has little or no knowledge of the subject matter or the sample being studied. ๏ The respondent is less restricted or is not forced to reply in terms of any of the given choices. ๏ It helps in gaining insight into the opinion and behaviour of the people. Dis-advantages: It involves difficulties of coding, classifying grouping and comparing of responses. Mixed type Response: ๏ Most of the questionnaires are of mixed types. This means that they consist of both fixed and open-ended type of questions. ๏ A questionnaire may consist of varieties of inquiries, for which it may consist of factual inquiries about individual's status regarding socio- economic met marital, occupations etc. ๏ It may also consist of attitudinal questions related to individual beliefs, feedings, motivation, consciousness, attitudes and opinion etc. ๏ Such factual and attitudinal questions can easily be of fixed type.
๏ However, on the other hand, many questions are related to mental presses and need to be of open-end type being narrative or descriptive in nature. Construction of Questionnaire: ๏ Questionnaire construction may appear to be a simple task but in reality it is not. ๏ This is evident from the process and considerations involved in its construction. ๏ The development of questionnaire whether to be used in a personal interview, is to be self administered or is to be mailed usually requires to be processed through atleast three progressive steps: (a) Examining the conceptual model. (b) Framing of standardized questions (c) Pilot study or pre-testing (d) Printing of the questionnaire (e) Types of questionnaire administered (A) Examining the Conceptual Model ๏ It is done through literature surveys, exploratory interviews and analyses. ๏ It is done for explaining the model and for locating the relevant variables. ๏ Wherever the variables are not known and properly defined, it becomes difficult to decide as to what information is to be sought. (B) Framing of Questionnaire: ๏ In framing of the questionnaire, the following points need to be kept in mind. (i) Formal questions and answers: ๏ The foremost is to decide about the general strategy of the questionnaire. ๏ One has also to decide whether structured, unstructured, direct indirect or projective questions would help to achieve research objectives.
Pre-disposing the Answer ๏ The frame of the question should suggest all possible alternatives for the respondents so that the respondent selects the category which represents his view to the nearest extent and does not select the answer suggested by the investigator ๏ The frame of the questionnaire should not be one that suggests any particular answer. Protecting the Respondents Ego: ๏ท If one wants to study the respondents unpleasant orientations or his negative attitude then one should in the beginning give the a chance of expressing his positive feelings first and then the respondent should be acted to express has negative attitude or feeling. Asking direct/indirect questions: ๏ Respondents may consciously or unconsciously give wrong or incomplete answers. ๏ Therefore, both direct and indirect questions should be asked. Sequences of Questions: ๏ The questions are put in a particular sequence in order to protect the respondents ego. ๏ Which means that they do not hurler discourage the respondents to give accurate answers. ๏ If personal and intimate questions are asked later, there is least resistance from the respondents. ๏ The opening question is important. One should start with easy questions so that the respondent would enjoy answering.
๏ It means that in the beginning more general and easy questions should be asked and later on one should slowly switch over to more specific and difficult questions. ๏ This procedure establishes the frame of reference gradually and helps the respondents to think more explicitly at successive stages. Categories of Recording and Coding: ๏ The categories to be used for recording of answers and for classification have to be determined in advance. ๏ If one waits until the data are in before deciding on categories one may fit the concepts too closely to the obvious data and loose some of the significance of the prove conceptualization. ๏ However, if the categories are developed and the tables are planned in the beginning, then it is helpful to the researcher in numerous ways like (a) Useless the relationship one seeks to, (b) To check whether the question have adequately covered the variables needed, and (c) To check whether the sample is large enough to fill the cells. Pilot Study or Pre-Testing: ๏ After drafting of the questionnaire, it is pre-testing through what, is called as pilot survey. ๏ At this stage the questionnaire is finally edited to ensure that the contents, form, sequence of questions, spacing, arrangement and appearance etc. of questions are checked. ๏ The objects of pilot survey are to make the questionnaire easily understandable to the people and to eliminate the probability of mis - understanding confusion and bias. Printing of the Questionnaire: ๏ After the pre-testing and final correction we come to the printing of the questionnaire. ๏ While printing the questionnaire, the following have to be kept in mind. (i) The physical format must be attractive and un ambiguous.
๏ However, the great dis-advantage is that since the questionnaires are self administered, there is a risk that the respondent may willing or unwilling provide among information. Postal Delivery Method: ๏ This method is often called as mailed questionnaire method, constitutes the distribution of questionnaires/questions through postal delivery along with a letter of request for postal return in pre paid envelopes. ๏ Then a follow up letter is sent for the return of the questionnaire. ๏ The dis-advantage of this method is these associated with self- administered questionnaires. It also involves uncertainly of response or very low percentage of returns. ๏ Another difficulty is that the researcher can not know whether the questionnaire was completed by the particular respondents or by other persons known to them.
