The document discusses the use of questionnaires as a method for collecting data. It defines questionnaires as a means for respondents to provide answers to printed questions. There are two main types of questionnaires - structured questionnaires which use standardized questions and formats, and unstructured questionnaires which allow for more flexibility. The document outlines best practices for constructing questionnaires, including using clear wording, logical question ordering, and avoiding overly personal questions. It notes that while questionnaires can efficiently obtain data from large groups, their main limitations include lower response rates compared to interviews.

1. JASHORE UNIVERSITY OFSCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY,BD
Written: MD Azizul Hakim
Edited & published: Humayun kobir
Dept : Agro product processing Technology

2. Sociology:
Sociology is the study of human behaviour.
Sociology refers to social behaviour, society,
patterns of social relationships, social interaction
and culture that surrounds everyday life.

3. What we can learn by reading this topic:
1.Introduction
2.Questionnaire defination
3. Questionnaire, schedule and the interview guide
4.Questionnaire method
5.Types of questionnaire
6.Formation or construction of a questionnaire
7.Main points to be noted in preparing and using
the questionnaire 8.Advantages and limitation of
questionnaire

4.  Introduction:
Questionnaires and schedules are very much used in gathering a variety
of data. They have been used for the collection of personal preferences,
social beliefs, attitudes, opinions, behaviour patterns, group practices,
habits and other kinds of data. The increasing use of schedules and
questionnaires is probably due to increased emphasis by social scientists
on quantitative measure ment of uniformly accumulated data.

5.  Questionnaires are now widely used collecting data,
particularly when data are to be collected from a large
number of people who we scattered over a wide area. They
are used both as independent and separate method of
collecting data. They are also used as an additional device
to check data gathered through observation and personal
interview.

6.  Definition of Questionnaire
 1. A questionnaire is a means of gathering information by
having the respondenta fill answers to printed questions. -
Wallace and Wallace
 2.Fundamentally, the questionnaire is a set of stimuli to
which literate people are exposed in order to observe their
verbal behaviour under these stimuli... Lindberg

7. 3.questionnaire studies are systemic ways of
asking questions under scientific controls.A
questionnaire is a device in which the
respondents fill in their responses in specified
manner personally.

8.  Questionnaire, schedule and the interview guide
Questionnaire:The word "Questionnaire" refers to a device
for securing answers to questions by using a form which
the respondent fills in himself.

9.  Schedule or Interview Schedule:"Schedule or "interview schedule" is
the name usually applied to a set of questions which are asked and
filled in by an interviewer in a face-to-face situation with another
person. In its form and content, a schedule is similar to the
questionnaire. Like the questinnaire, it can be structured and
unstructured. As in questionnaire, here also the wording of the
questions is the same for all the respondents.The main difference
between the questionnaire and schedule is that the questionnaire is
filled in by the respondent on his own, whereas the schedule is filled in
by the interviewer.

10.  Interview Guide:An "Interview guide on the other hand, is
a list of points or topics which the interviewer must cover
during the interview. In this case, flexibility may be
allowed as to the manner, order and language in which the
interviewer asks the questions. The interview guides are
also referred to "unstructured questionnaires." The
interview guide permits the interviewer to ask a fresh
question in order to make the previous answer more
meaningful.

11. Questionnaire method :
 This method of data collection is quite popular, particularly in case of
big enquiries.The questionnaire is mailed to respondents who are
expected to read and understand the questions and write down the
reply in the space meant for the purpose in the questionnaire
itself.The respondents have to answer the questions on their own.
Questionnaire method question is sent to persons with request to
answer the questions and return the questionnaire questions are
printed in definite order,mailed to samples who are expected to read
that questions understand the questions and write the answers in
provided space.

12.  Types of questionnaire:
 Questionnaires can be classified into two broad types
 1.Structured questionnaire
 2.Unstructured questionnaire
 Structured questionnaire is a document that consists of a set of standardized questions
with a fixed scheme, which specifies the exact wording and order of the questions, for
gathering information from respondents. Structured questionnaire is the primary
measuring instrument in survey research. The use of structured questionnaire has a close
relationship with quantitative analysis. The use of structured questionnaires in social
research was pioneered by Francis Galton and is very common in the collection of data
in quality of life research nowadays. A typical example of a structured questionnaire is
the Census questionnaire, which collects demographic information from individuals. In
addition, structured questionnaire is also often used as an assessment tool for
psychological and psychiatric tests. From Population Census to mini-surveys, structured
questionnaires can appear in many different forms and are used in different types

13. Unstructured Questionnaires:
 Unstructured questionnaires, frequently referred to as "interview guider", also
aim at precision and contain definite subject matter areas. Flexibility is its main
advantage. It is designed to obtain view-points, opinions, attitudes, and to show
relationships and interconnections between data which might escape notice
under more mechanical types of interrogation. The object is to give the
repondent maximum opportunity to reveal how he had arrived at or developed
his world of experience. Free responses of the respondents are solicited and no
limitations are imposed and no predetermined responses are provided. This form
of questionnaire is used for intensive studies, but generally for a limited number
of selected cases. It has been applied to studies of family group cohesiveness, to
studies of personal experiences, beliefs and attitudes. The chief disadvantage of
unstructured questionnaires stems from the danger that non-additive and non-
comparable will be accumulated when no structuring is imposed.

14.  Formation or construction of a questionnaire:
 1.Physical format: The physical format of a good
questionnaire must be such that it must be such that it must
evoke spontaneous interest from respondents.
 2 Question Conten: Questions must be specific and
unambiguous and seek response on a definite topic.
 3.Question Sequence: Questions in a questionnaire must
be ordered in a definite sequence.In addition to these, the
following suggestions may also be considered in
preparing and using the questionnaire.

15.  Main points to be Noted in Preparing and Using the questionnaire :
 1. Any questionnaire must be limited in its length and scope. In interviews especially
the questionnaire should not require more than 30 minutes to be completed
 2. When the questioner and the interview possess a more detailed experience with the
subject of the inquiry, many questions become unnecessary and can be avoided.
 3. The questioner should try to know as much as possible shout his subject matter
before he begins to formulate questions.
 4. Care must be taken to to avoid questions which include all the possible alternatives
ona particular issue at study.
 5. Wordings of the questionnaire should be simple, and unambiguous
 6.Care must be taken to avoid ambiguous,too personal and embarrassing questions.

16.  7.Further, there must be a unity in the construction of a
questionnaire or schedule. The questions should be so
designed to awaken the interest of the respondent and must
proceed from simplicity to complexity. Embarrassing
questions should be avoided and the personal information
should not be sought. The questions should proceed from
one frame of reference to another instead jumping back
and forth.

17.  Advantages and Limitation of Questionnaire:
 Advantages of Questionnaire:
 1. Questionnaire is relatively economical and inexpensive. It is
possible to cover a large number of people scattered over a wide
area.

18.  2. This method saves time. In stead of meeting people personally it is possible
to approach them in a large number through the mailed questionnaire. Analysis
and interpretation can be done quickly.
 3. Questionnaire ensures anonymity. The respondent is free to express his
views and opinions
 4.Questionnaire is said to be more suitable for eliciting information regarding
some personal and pri ate affairs such as sex habits, marital relations, etc.,
because of the anonymity that it maintains
 5. Quetionnaire does not put much pressure on the respondents emotionality. It
provides sufficient leisure time to answer the questions in a relaxed mood.
 6. In questionnaire, the collected answers can be processed and analysed in a
simpler and faster manner. Uniformity of answers helps the standardisation of
the recording procedure:

19.  Disadvantages and Limitations:
 1. Questionnaire method cannot be administered in the care of illiterate and uneducated
persons.
 2.Questionnaire is not suitable when a spontaneous answer is very much required.
 3. There is no way of checking misinterpretations answer is very much required
 4. Proportion of returns, especially of mailed questionnaire, can be very low, as low as
10%.This does not give a comprehensive picture of the situation.
 5. In spite of their advantage questionnaires lack the flexibility of interviews. Generally,
they have lower response rates, since it is easier for the respondents not to respond. They
permit the measurement of verbal behaviour only, without allowing the researcher to make
observations,. Furthermore, mailed questionnaires enable the respondent to skip questions.

20. Thank You For Your Kind
Attention