2. Why using questionnaires?
These instruments help the researcher to convert information they receive directly from
people into data.
They allow investigators to measure what someone knows (knowledge), what someone
likes or dislikes (preferences) or what someone thinks (beliefs).
Nevertheless, they might present certain problems:
1- The ones who respond must be willing to cooperate.
2- They must tell what really is instead what they believe or think
3- They must know what they feel or think.
3. Question formats
• Direct vs Indirect questions
Direct: Do you like your job?
Indirect: What do you think about your job?
• Specific vs Non specific questions
Specific: How do you like operating a lathe?
Non specific: How do you like operating machinery or
working at manual tasks?
4. • Questions of fact vs Opinion
The opinion question may ask for preference. It might be
between models of cars. The person who answers could
provide an explanation for his answer.
Not all opinion questions will elicit honest answers.
• Questions vs Statements
To a question, the respondent provides an appropriate answer.
For a statement, the respondent just indicates whether agrees
or disagrees.
5. • Predetermined vs Response-keyed questions
Keyed questions:
They might ask if the respondent is a college graduate. If the
answer is no, the respondent is instructed to skip next question.
Predetermined:
The next question will ask the reason for that answer.
6. How to answer the questions
• Unstructured responses
More commonly known opened questions. The subject provides
an answer in whatever form he chooses.
• Fill-in response
It requires the subject to generate an answer instead of
choosing one. The range of possible answers is limited.
• Tabular response
It is similar to the fill-in mode, but this mode imposes a structure.
They most fit in a table.
7. How to answer the questions
• Scaled response
A structured mode that stablishes a scale on which the
respondent expresses agreement or disagreement to an
attitude or describe some aspects of them selves.
• Ranking response
This mode asks a series of statements and asks the respondent
to order the items according to a particular criterion.
8. • Check list response
The responder replies in a check list and choses one or more
options from a list.
• Categorical response
Is similar to the Check list but simpler. It usually shows just two
possibilities per item.
9. Constructing a questionnaire or interview
Knowing what questions ask either you do a
questionnaire or an interview is really important.
Here there are some recommendations:
10. • Specify the variables
You need to be sure of what you are investigating;
therefore, write down the name of your variables. These
are going to tell you where to begin.
• Choosing the question format
You need to decide how the information is going to be
presented. This format will depend on what you are
attempting to measure.
11. Choosing the response mode
It will depend on the kind of information you seek.
This selection requires consider several criteria:
1- Type of data desired for analysis.
2- Response flexibility
3- Time to complete
4- Potential response bias
5- Ease of scoring
12. Sample Procedures
Random sampling
The researcher administers a questionnaire o interview to a
particular group. Then a sample is selected to serve as the
respondents.
Defining the population
The population is the group which the researcher wants to
get information from. Selecting the group which will
constitute the population is an early stage.
13. Conducting an interview
When is an telephoned interview:
This interview will give the researcher the opportunity
to expand the time and get more information or
alter the instructions given.
In a scheduled meeting:
The researcher should give a brief explanation about
the nature of the interview. The interview should be
recorded.
