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3. FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
Deptt. Of T.O.T.
(Agril. ECONOMICS STREAM)
SEMINAR
ON
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION FOR SOCIAL
RESEARCH
SUBMITTED TO PRESENTED BY
Dr. J.K. GUPTA DRONAK KUMAR
Associate Prof. (Agril. Econ.) M.Sc. (Ag) Agril. Econ.
Deptt. Of T.O.T. 3rd Sem.

4. Contents
1. Introduction.
2. Defination.
3. Characters of a good questionnaire.
4. Functions of questionnaire.
5. Types of questionnaire.
6. Questionnaire as instruments.
7. Constructing a questionnaire.
8. Wordings of the questionnaire.
9. Example of the questionnaire.
10.Advantages of the questionnaire.
11.Disadvantages of a questionnaire.
12.Schedule in Research Methodology.
13.Types of schedules.
14.Conclusion.

5. QUESTIONNAIRE
Introduction:-
“ A Questionnaire is an instrument for data collection. It consist
of a number of questions printed or typed in a definite order on
a form or set of forms. ”
Defination:-
“In general the word questionnaire refers to a device for
securing answer to questions by using a form which the
respondent fills in himself.
By:- Goode and Hatte

6. 1. Should be concerned with specific and relevant topic
2. Should be short
3. Directions and wording should be simple and clear
4. Questions should be objective
5. Embarrassing questions, presuming questions and
hypothetical questions should be avoided
6. Should be presented in a good order
7. Should be attractive, neatly printed and clearly arranged

7.  DESCRITION:
The questionnaire provides description about age,
sex, marital status, occupation, income, political affiliation
religious affiliation, etc.
 MEASUREMENT:
Measurement of individual and/or group variables
like attitude, opinion, traits and habits of persons.

8.  Based upon the type of respond required,
1. Fixed- response questionnaire.
2. Open- end questionnaire.
 Based upon the method of administering
1. Mail questionnaire .
2. Face-to-face administered questionnaire.

9. 1. According to form
I. The free-answer type
II. The guided response type
2. According to the kind of data asked for
I. Descriptive (verbal) data
II. Quantified (numerical) data
III. Intensity of feeling, emotion, or attitude
IV. Degree of judgment
V. Understanding
VI. Reasoning

10.  Most survey research relies on the use of
questionnaire to measure variables
 Demographic variables
 The accuracy and precision of questionnaire requires
expertise and care in their construction
 Self report scales

11. Deciding type, writing a draft, pretesting,
concluding with specific procedures.
STEPS:
1. Decide what information should be sought
2. Decide what type of questionnaire should be used
3. Write a first draft of the questionnaire
4. Reexamine and revise the questionnaire
5. Pretest the questionnaire
6. Edit the questionnaire and specify the procedures for
its use.

12. WORDINGS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE:
 Simplicity in language.
 Avoid ambiguity.
Avoid vague words.
 Avoid embarrassing questions.
 Avoid double negatives.
 Avoid leading questions.
 Presuming questions.
 Hypothetical questions.

13. Example of the Questionnaire

17. 1. The questionnaire is easy to construct. Distribution
is easy and inexpensive.
2. Responses are easy to tabulate.
3. The respondent’s replies are free.
4. Confidential information may be given freely.
5. The respondent can fill out the questionnaire at
will.
6. The respondent can give more accurate replies.

18. 1. The questionnaire cannot be used with those who
cannot read or write well, especially those who are
totally illiterate.
2. If many respondents may not returned the filled up
copies of the questionnaire purposely or forgetfully,
considerable follow-ups are necessary.
3. If a respondent gives wrong information, it cannot
be corrected at once.
4. A respondent may leave some or many questions
unanswered because nobody urges him to do so or
he may not understand the significance of the
information he gives.

19. Schedule in Research Methodology
A schedule is a structure of set of questions on a given topic
which are asked by the interviewer or investigator personally.
The order of questions, the language of the questions and the
arrangement of parts of the schedule are not changed.
However, the investigator can explain the questions if the
respondent faces any difficulty. It contains direct questions as
well as questions in tabular form.
Schedule include open-ended questions and close-ended
questions. Open-ended questions allow the respondent
considerable freedom in answering. However, questions are
answered in details. Close-ended questions has to be
answered by the respondent by choosing an answer from the
set of answers given under a question just by ticking.

20. Following are the different types of schedules used by
social scientists and anthropologists.
Village or community schedule: It is used by census
researchers who collect general information on populations,
occupations, etc.
Family or Household schedule: It gives full demographic
details of households, the status of individuals, data on
education, age, family relations etc.
Opinion or attitude schedule: To schedule the views of
population regarding an issue.

21. Questionnaire
Questionnaire is generally sent
through mail to informants to
be answered as specified in a
covering letter, but otherwise
without further assistance from
the sender.
Data collection is cheap and
economical as the money is
spent in preparation of
questionnaire and in mailing
the same to respondents.
It is not clear that who replies.
schedule
A schedule is generally filled
by the research worker or
enumerator, who can
interpret the questions when
necessary.
Data collection is more
expensive as money is spent
on enumerators and in
imparting trainings to them.
Money is also spent in
preparing schedules.
Identity of respondent is not
known.

22. Questionnaire
The physical appearance of
questionnaire must be quite
attractive.
This is not possible when
collecting data through
questionnaire.
Wider and more
representative distribution of
sample is possible.
schedule
This may not be the case as
schedules are to be filled in
by enumerators and not by
respondents.
Along with schedule
observation method can
also be used.
There remains the difficulty
in sending enumerators over
a relatively wider area.

23.  Questionnaire are the main and easy way collecting
data.
 But the questionnaire must be highly reliable and valid.
 Using standardized questionnaires will give us the
appropriate data and will yield a valid study
 One must follow all the basic guidelines and methods of
constructing a questionnaire and test it before using it.