This document discusses questionnaires as a research instrument in survey research. It defines questionnaires and describes their key characteristics, functions, types, and how they are used to measure variables. It also outlines the steps to construct a good questionnaire, including deciding what information is needed, defining the target respondents, choosing an administration method, writing question content and wording, determining length, and pre-testing the questionnaire. Questionnaires are used to collect factual information through a set of predetermined questions and can be fixed-response or open-ended.

1. QUESTIONNAIRE
NEELOFAR SAFDAR
Presentation no.3

2. QUESTIONNAIRE
 A set of predetermined questions that serves as
primary research instrument in survey research.
 Used to collect factual information.
 Consists of a form containing a series of questions.

3. Characteristics of a good
Questionnaire
 Should be concerned with specific and
relevant topic
 Should be short
 Wordings should be simple and clear.
 Embarrassing and threatening questions
should be avoided
 Should be present in a good order.
 Attractive ,neatly printed and properly
arranged.

4. Functions of a Questionnaire
 Description
The questionnaire provides description about age
,gender, marital status , occupation , income ,
education etc.
 Measurements
Measurement of individual or group variables like
attitude , opinion , traits and habits of persons.

5. Types of Questionnaires
Based upon types of Responses:
1. Fixed – response questionnaire or close ended
questionnaire
2. Open - ended questionnaire
Based upon method of administering:
1. Mail questionnaire
2. Face to face administered questionnaire
3. Through telephone
4. Through peers

6. Questionnaire as Instruments
 Most survey research relies on the use of
questionnaire to measure variables.
 To measure Demographic variables.
 Accuracy and precision of data depends on
the construction of questionnaires.

7. Demographic Variables
 These are the variables used to describe the
characteristics of the respondents being surveyed.
 It can include information as income level , gender
, education level , location , race , family size etc.

8. Preferences and Attitudes
 Individual preferences and attitudes like brand of
coffee preferred or attitudes about some political
issues.

9. Self Report Scales
 Used to measure judgments or attitudes about
variables given on scales.
 For example political leaders , taste of coffee
etc
 To determine difference among variables.

10. Constructing a Questionnaire
 Deciding the information required
The first step is to decide what are the things one
needs to know from the respondents in order to
meet the surveys objective.
 Define the Target respondent
The researcher must define the population about
which he/she wishes to collect the sample data.

11.  Choosing the methods to reach target respondents
Personal interviews
mailed questionnaires
Telephone interview
group or focus interviews

12.  Deciding the questions content
Write a first draft of the questionnaire.
Researcher must always be prepared to ask“is this
question really needed ?
opening questions that are easy to answer.
 Wordings of the questionnaire
Simplicity in the language
Avoid Ambiguity

13. Avoid embarrassing questions
Avoid negative questions
Should provide the respondents with the easy
method of indicating his answers.
 Length of the Questionnaire
In general it is best for the questionnaire to be as
short as possible.
A long questionnaire leads to boredom.

14.  Pre Test the Questionnaire
Test the questionnaire on a small sample of your
subject ,if possible on colleagues or friends.
The main aim is to detect flaws if any and correct
these prior to main survey.

15. Advantages