Questionnaire Surveys

Obtaining data by asking people questions and recording their answers…

•A standardised set of questions is given to each respondent; they give their answers in writing•Obtains lots of data quickly and gives you an insight into people’s views, opinions and attitudes

But only if they answer accurately / honestly.

Questionnaire Surveys

• Decide:…which attitudes, behaviours or traits you want to

measure…whether you want qualitative or quantitative data…which sorts of questions you will ask

• Pilot and modify the questionnaire

• Collect data

Type of Data

• Qualitative data

Rich in detail or description, usually in textual or narrative form; collects thought, opinions, feelings; words

• Quantitative data

Numerical data, measurements of quantity or amount; numbers

Type of Data

Qualitative

•Rich - in detail•Allows for in-depth analysisBUT•Difficult to analyse•Difficult to compare people or groups

Quantitative

•Easier to analyse (e.g. statistically)•Easier to compare people or groupsBUT•Undetailed and potentially superficial

Types of Question

Open questions

• Allow respondents to answer however they want

• Generate qualitative data

Closed questions

• Restrict respondent to a predetermined set of responses

• Generate quantitative data

Types of Closed Question

The Straightforward response

Examples:

• Are you female or male? M F

• What is your age in years? ____ years

• Do you smoke? Yes No

Types of Closed Question

The Checklist

Examples:

• What is the highest academic qualification you hold?

GCSEsA – LevelsBatchelor DegreePost-graduate Degree

Types of Closed Question

The Adjectival/adverbial responseExample:• Does your anxiety affect your ability to do the

following things?Not at allNot at all A BitA Bit Very muchVery much

Go to workGo to work

Meet Meet friendsfriends

Go Go shoppingshopping

Types of Closed Question

The Numerical (Likert) response scale

Example:

• Psychology is the most interesting A-Level subject

11 22 33 44 55Strongly Strongly

agreeagree AgreeAgree Not sureNot sure DisagreeDisagree Strongly Strongly DisagreeDisagree

Types of Closed Question

The Ranking scale

Example:

• Rank the following activities according to how much time you spend on them each day, where 1 = most time, 4 = least timeTalking face to faceTalking on the telephoneText messagingOther (e.g. MSN, IRC chat)

Questionnaire Design

• Keep it simple & clear

• Keep it as short as possible

• Keep it relevant to purpose

• Collect personal information last

• Ask for one piece of information at a time

• Allow for ‘don’t know’ where appropriate

• Be sensitiveSticking to these rules will improve the chance of you getting

valid, useful data from a large number of respondents

Pilot and Modify

Test Questionnaire with a small group

of ppts

Obtain feedback from them

Identify issues with the

questionnaire

Improve the problem

questionnaire items