This document discusses research methods for studying music education, including questionnaires, opinionnaires, interviews, and sampling. Questionnaires allow researchers to gather information from many scattered respondents through self-administered forms. They provide both qualitative and quantitative data but have low response rates and require educated, cooperative respondents. Interviews are more flexible and allow for discussion, but are more expensive. Samples are used to study populations when examining every individual is infeasible due to large sizes. The document provides examples of questions for questionnaires and opinionnaires related to music education topics.

1. Dr. Amit Verma
Assistant Professor
Sangeet Bhawan
Visva Bharati University,
Shantiniketan, W.B.
Email: kr.amitverma@gmail.com

2. Questionnaire
Questionnaire is a device for securing answers to
questions by using a form which the respondent fills
by himself. It is an important instrument in survey
research, being used to gather information from
widely scattered sources. The questionnaire
procedure normally comes into use where one can
not readily see personally all of the people from
whom investigator desires responses or where there
is no particular reason to see them personally. It is
most flexible of tools in collecting both quantitative
and qualitative information.

3. Merits..
 Direction are clear and complete, important terms
are clarified, each question deals with a single idea,
accurate unambiguous response.
 It seeks only that data which cannot be obtained
from the sources like books, journal, reports,
records etc.
 Respondent have adequate time to give well
response.
 Respondents, who are not easily approachable, can
also be reached conveniently.

4. Demerits…
 Low rate of return of the duly filled in
questionnaires.
 It can be used only when respondents are educated
and cooperating.
 Misinterpretation of Questions and biased reply.
 It is difficult to know whether willing respondents
are truly representative.
 This method is likely to be the slowest of all.

5. Example -
 Which music education system is more appropriate -
Gharana education system or Institutional education
system? Please give the logic in the support of your
answer.
 According to your view what steps should be taken for
reformation of music education system?
 Do you agree with this statement that music institutes
are not a place to make an artist?
 What do you think about the importance of electronic
instruments in music education and music practice?
 Is distance education successful in the field of music?

6. Opinionnaire
 Opinion polling represents a single question approach.
The answer is usually in the term of ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Example -
 Are you satisfied with present situation of institutional
education of music?
 Should Music therapy be implemented in hospitals?
 Is the Indian Classical Music popular in young
generation?
 Indian Classical Music gives mental piece and relief to
their listeners.

7.  Recording Device: Audio / Video
 Photography
 Apps
 Music Instruments, etc.

8. Interview
Interview is a two way method which permits an
exchange of ideas and information. It involves the
collection of data through direct verbal interaction
between the interviewee and the interviewer. As a
research technique, the interview is a conversation
carried out with the definite purpose of obtaining
certain information. In interview the investigator
can create a right type of friendly atmosphere
which is very conductive for obtaining desired
data.

9. Limitations…
Interview has some limitations also. Interview is
comparatively a costly affair. The cost per case is
much higher in this method than in any other data
gathering technique. When the survey covers a
wide geographical area, interview is going to be
expensive and also costly in time and effort. There
are some limitations with interview method. It
does not work on infants, shy people, deaf and
mad people and animals.

10. Population
Population is a complete set of elements (persons
or objects) that possess some common
characteristic defined by the sampling criteria
established by the researcher. A research
population is generally a large collection of
individuals or objects that is the main focus of a
scientific query. However, due to the large sizes of
populations, researchers often cannot test every
individual in the population because it is too
expensive and time-consuming. This is the reason
why researchers rely on sampling techniques.

11. Definition of Sample
“A sample is a small proportion of a
population selected for observation and
analysis. It is a collection consisting of a part
or subset of objects or individuals of
population which is selected for the express
purpose of representing the population. By
observing the characteristics of the sample,
one can make certain inferences about the
characteristics of the population from which
it is drawn.”

12. Thank you