QUESTIONNAIRE

METHOD

ONE OF THE WIDELY USED

RESEARCH DESIGN IN
SOCIAL SCIENCES TO
COLLECT DATA IS

SURVEYS

SURVEY ...

A survey is a technique of gathering

information:
by questioning,
those in individuals who are the object of the
research,
belonging to a representative sample,
through standardized or otherwise
questioning procedure,
with the aim of studying the relationship
among the variables and/or collecting
information that probably describe the whole
population.

Survey
is a systematic method of gathering
information from (a sample of) entities for the
purpose of constructing quantitative
descriptors of the attributes of the larger
population of which the entities are members.

SURVEYS ...
Surveys

can be conducted

(i) either
in STRUCTURED MANNER
or
in UNSTRUCTURED MANNER.
(ii) either
Self-Administered
or
Administered through others.

There may be different ways to conduct surveys

Survey
Methods

Personal

Telephone

In-Home

Traditional
Telephone

Mall
Intercept

ComputerAssisted
Telephone
Interviewing

Mail

ComputerAssisted
Personal
Interviewing
Mail
Interview

Electronic

E-mail Interne
t

Mail
Pane
l

How to know which

is the best way to
conduct a survey?

Criteria for Evaluating Survey

Methods

Flexibility of Data Collection

The flexibility of data collection is determined primarily by the
extent to which the respondent can interact with the
interviewer and the survey questionnaire.

Diversity of Questions
The diversity of questions that can be asked in a survey
depends upon the degree of interaction the respondent has
with the interviewer and the questionnaire, as well as the
ability to actually see the questions.

Use of Physical Stimuli

The ability to use physical stimuli such as the product, a
product prototype, commercials, or promotional displays during
the interview.

Criteria for Evaluating Survey

Methods
(continued)

Sample Control
Sample control is the ability of the survey mode to reach the
units specified in the sample effectively and efficiently.

Control of the Data Collection Environment

The degree of control a researcher has over the environment in
which the respondent answers the questionnaire.

Control of Field Force

The ability to control the interviewers and supervisors involved
in data collection.

Quantity of Data
The ability to collect large amounts of data.

Criteria for Evaluating Survey

Methods
(continued)

Complexity of Questions
With what ease one can administer complex questions, in a
survey. For instance, Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing
can handle very complex type of questions.

Response Rate
Survey response rate is broadly defined as the percentage of
the total attempted interviews that are completed.

Perceived Anonymity
Perceived anonymity refers to the respondents' perceptions
that their identities will not be discerned by the interviewer or
the researcher.

Social Desirability/Sensitive Information

Social desirability is the tendency of the respondents to give
answers that are socially acceptable, whether or not they are
true.

Criteria for Evaluating Survey

Methods
(continued)

Potential for Interviewer Bias

The extent of the interviewer's role determines the
potential for bias.

Speed
The total time taken for administering the survey to the
entire sample.

Cost
The total cost of administering the survey and
collecting the data.

Summary of Criteria for

Evaluating Survey Methods
Flexibility of Data
Collection

Quantity of Data

Potential for
Interviewer
Bias

Diversity of
Questions

Complexity of
Questions

Speed

Use of Physical
Stimuli

Response Rate

Cost

Control of the
Data Collection
Environment

Perceived
Anonymity

Control of Field
Force

Social Desirability/
Sensitive
Information

To do a survey, you
have to ask questions

For that you need a

QUESTIONNAIRE!!!

QUESTIONNAIRE???

A questionnaire is a research instrument

consisting of a series of questions and other
prompts for the purpose of gathering information
from respondents.

It is a form containing a set of questions;

submitted to people to obtain statistical
information.

QUESTIONNAIRE

A questionnaire should be designed in such a

manner that
responses can be easily tabulated and
translated into findings and recommendations that
satisfy the required objectives of the research
project.

While designing a questionnaire, one must

keep the following considerations in mind:
FIRST, does it provide the necessary information
that is required for the research project?
SECOND, is it designed for the convenience of the
respondents?
THIRD, does it meet coding, editing and data
processing requirements of the research project?

QUESTIONNAIRE
(CONTINUED)
In short, a good questionnaire should
accommodate all the research objectives in sufficient
depth and breadth;
speak to respondents in the understandable language
and at the appropriate intellectual level;
be convenient to be administered - in terms of posing
questions and recording responses;
be filled in comfortable time duration before the boredom
sets in; and
facilitate coding, editing, data entry and data processing.

Steps involved in the

development of a
questionnaire...
STEP#1

STEP#2

STEP#3

SPECIFY WHAT
INFORMATION WILL BE
SOUGHT.

DETERMINE TYPE OF
QUESTIONNAIRE AND
METHOD OF
ADMINISTRATION.
DETERMINE THE CONTENTS
OF INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

Steps involved in the

development of a
questionnaire...
STEP#4

DETERMINE FORM OF
RESPONSES TO EACH
QUESTION

STEP#5

DETERMINE WORDING OF
EACH QUESTION

STEP#6

DETERMINE THE SEQUENCE

OF QUESTIONS

Steps involved in the

development of a
questionnaire...
STEP#7

DETERMINE PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF
QUESTIONNAIRE

STEP#8

REEXAMINE STEPS 1-7 AND

REVISE IF NECESSARY

STEP#9

PRETEST QUESTIONNAIRE
AND REVISE IF NECESSARY

SPECIFY WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE

SOUGHT

must be clear about the information you

need to answer the issues to be addressed in
the research project.

do not try to extract that information which

respondents hesitate in providing either it is
too confidential or too private and personal to
be shared with another person.

try to ask only and the only information that

are relevant for your research; for that one
should have absolute clarity about the
research problem.

BACK

DETERMINE TYPE OF QUESTIONNAIRE AND

METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION.

structured or unstructured?

obtaining information through well designed

written questions or through showing pictures and
telling stories about these pictures, or collecting
information verbally or in writing.

questionnaire will be administered by self, by

hired personnel/agency; through mail; or telephonic
interviews or through internet/email.

whether interviews will be conducted in phases.

DETERMINE THE CONTENTS OF INDIVIDUAL

QUESTIONS

how many questions need to be asked and

what all to be asked in each questions.

whether questions that are related among

themselves (e.g. questions related to personal
details, or related to attitude towards their bosses
or subordinates) should be put under one question
with various sub-questions or should they be
asked as main questions without any subquestions.

not try to ask so many things just in one question!

DETERMINE THE CONTENTS OF

INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS (continued)

To determine the contents of questions, a researcher

should address the following issues:
IS THE QUESTION NECESSARY?
ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS NEEDED INSTEAD OF ONE?
DO THE RESPONDENTS HAVE NECESSARY
INFORMATION TO PROVIDE?
WILL THE RESPONDENTS LIKE TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE QUESTIONS ASKED?

DETERMINE FORM OF RESPONSES

TO EACH QUESTION

Should the questions asked be in the form of OPENENDED QUESTIONS or CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS?

Should close-ended questions be in the form of

dichotomous questions or multiple-choice questions?

Scaled Response Questions: these questions are

designed to capture the intensity of the respondents
answers.

EXAMPLE: Open-Ended
Questions

OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS are those questions

to which a respondent replies in her or his
words. Such as

What do you think is the most in need of improvement

in the present system of billing at MTNL?
________________________________

Give the most important reason why you have

selected the present brand of tooth
brush______________________________________.

Suggest as per your opinion which is the most

important function of Parent Teachers Association in
Schools._____________________
_______________________________________________________

EXAMPLE Dichotomous
Questions

closed ended questions that ask the

respondents to choose between two answers.
Such as

Do you think that this year inflation is going to be more than that
of the last year?

YES
NO

The UPA Government has taken serious steps to improve IndoPak relations.

AGREE
DISAGREE

According to your opinion, the growth rate in GDP this fiscal is

going to be

GREATER THAN THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR

LOWER THAN THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR

EXAMPLE Multiple-Choice
Questions

closed ended questions that ask the

respondents to choose among several
answers. Such as

Please indicate the age group you belong to 1.

2.
3.

Under 15
15-25
25-40

4.
5.
6.

40-50
50-60
Above 60

In the last month, have you visited your bank for (TICK
THAT APPLY).
1.
2.
3.

For depositing cheques,

interest/dividend warrants etc.
For withdrawal of cash
Collecting statement of account

4.
5.
6.

Collecting cheque book

Applying for Personal Loan
For any enquiry

DETERMINE WORDING OF EACH

QUESTION

use simple words.

avoid any kind of ambiguous words.

avoid ambiguous questions.

avoid leading questions.

avoid implicit alternatives.

avoid implicit assumptions.

avoid generalizations and estimates.

avoid double barreled questions.

Examples

In your view, which dyad is most responsible

for feelings of trust in early childhood?
1. Mother and Father
2. Father and Sibling
3. Mother and Sibling

Do you think that other people would enjoy

the book?
YES
NO

Do you think that a company with a PTI of

more than Rs. 500 crores in a year should be
considered as a large scale company?
YES
NO
DONT KNOW

DETERMINE THE SEQUENCE OF

QUESTIONS

you may start with simple and interesting questions!!!

start with broad questions and narrow down to more

specific questions - it is called FUNNEL APPROACH.

beginning and ending of a questionnaire may have

simple and less demanding questions and in mid, have
more demanding and serious questions.

place difficult and sensitive information at the end of

the questionnaire.

put Personal information first so as to gain the

familiarity with the respondents.

DETERMINE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

OF QUESTIONNAIRE

physical appearance of a questionnaire may affect

the cooperation and thus, the quality of responses one
can obtain.

ensure proper size and layout of a questionnaire.

a questionnaire
should not give a feeling of
cluttered or crowded appearance.

properly stapled/bounded and handy.