Questionnaire Method

Questionnaire is an instrument of data collection. The researchers most commonly use this method
for collecting data. In order to gather data on a particular research topic, the researcher lists the
questions to which s/he requires answers. The list of questions arranged in some order is either
given personally, or sent / mailed to the target population. A questionnaire is a set of written
questions for respondents to answer. These answers become primary data for investigation.

Schvaneveltd (1985) defined questionnaire as “a data-gathering device that elicits from a

respondent the answers or reactions to printed (pre-arranged) questions presented in a specific
order.” Questionnaires are often used in surveys as the primary data collection instruments.

While preparing a questionnaire, caution must be taken in selection of questions and variables so
that the researcher could receive accurate answers to the issues that a researcher wants to explore.

Steps to be followed in questionnaire construction and writing the report:

1) Determining the scope of the questionnaire.

2) Deciding the type of questions (close ended or open ended) to be asked.

3) Preparing the draft questionnaire.

4) Pretesting the questionnaire with a sample population.

5) Revising the questionnaire according to the suggestions received.

6) Distributing of the questionnaire to the actual sample.

7) Sending reminders to the population under study.

8) Receiving the responses.

9) Analysing and interpreting of the data received.

10) Writing the report.

Guiding Principles to be followed in the questionnaire:

1) It should be self-explanatory.

2) Questions should be restricted to close ended as opened ended questions could receive vague
and incomplete responses, which are difficult to interpret.

3) Less number of questions in the questionnaire helps in receiving high response rate.

4) Attractive layout of the questionnaire is necessary. It helps in completion of the questionnaires.

5) Proper instructions should be provided to the respondents in filling up the questionnaire.

Types of questions

Advantages of Open Ended Questions

• Unanticipated answers can be obtained from the respondents.

• Researcher can get the real views of the respondents.

• Respondents can give their views in their own language reflecting creativity, self expression and
richness of detail.

• Such answers reveal the logic of the respondents.

Disadvantages of Open Ended Questions

• Responses can be vague, irrelevant or not to the point.

• Many interpretations of the same question may not lead to valuable analysis.

• Coding of the responses is not possible.

• Respondent needs more time to answer.

• More space is required for answers in the questionnaire.

• Respondents may use different terms for the same concept.

Close Ended Questions Close ended questions are best suited for large-scale surveys. They are easier
and quicker for the respondents as well as for the researcher. The Close-ended 52 Advanced Writing
Skills questions in the questionnaire may sometimes suggest strange results. This problem can be
overcome by taking interviews, which can supplement the information on the close ended
questions. There is another problem faced by the researcher while formulating different choices for
a particular question. If the choices are less the desired results cannot be achieved. If the choices are
too many, it may confuse the participant and appropriate answers cannot be received. Close-ended
questions are provided with a list of accepted answers. A respondent has to pick and choose the
right answers. The responses chosen by respondents may be best suited to them but they may not
be the correct answers. There is a possibility that the list of alternative answers may not be sufficient
for the respondent, hence, limiting his/her options. Given below is an example of a close-ended
question.

Advantages of Close Ended Questions

• Cost effective.

• Answers of the respondents can be compared.

• Easy for respondents to answer. Questionnaire Method

• Easy to code and tabulate.

• Performance of the respondents is more reliable.

• Researcher can also reliably interpret the answers.

• Sensitive questions can be properly answered.

• Less number of confused answers.

• Less knowledgeable persons can also answer.

• With limited number of answer options, the possibility of getting enough responses to the options
or categories may be useful for analysis

Disadvantages of Close Ended Questions

• Ideas of the researchers are imposed on the respondents.

• Less knowledgeable can also answer due to the availability of multiple choices.

• It is possible that respondents get frustrated by not getting the desirous options of their choice.

• Multiple choices from the researcher may be confusing for the respondents

Advantages of questionnaire

Easier and quicker to collect data. Through this method large amount of data can be generated in a
short span of time.

• Direct responses can be obtained.

• Information received is quantifiable. Quantitative as well as qualitative responses can be procured.

Back ground information of the respondents, which is otherwise difficult to obtain, could be
collected.

• Empirical data can be collected.

• It is cost effective.

• Response from a large population can be received covering a wide geographical area.

• High rate of response can be generated from an educated population.

• Respondents get a chance to prepare and revise their answers before finally answering the
questionnaire.

• Researchers also get a chance though pretest to revise the final questionnaire.

• Responses are easy to analyse and tabulate.

• Questionnaire method provides the respondents to express their views on any given topic freely.

• Questionnaire has a fixed format with a given number of questions. This helps in eliminating
variation in the questioning process.

Limitations of the Questionnaire Method:

• Difficult to receive adequate response rate. People often do not return the questionnaire on time.

• Reliability of data can be questioned.

• Truthful answers cannot be ascertained.

• It is a time-consuming activity, which includes preparation, pretest, revision, distribution and

sending reminders adding to time and cost of data collection.

Incomplete answers also cause problem during the analysis stage.

• Researcher cannot observe the respondents reaction at the time of filling up of the questionnaire.

• The questions can be wrongly interpreted which can affect the analysis.

• Assumptions of the researchers for certain things may prove opposite to the respondent’s
perceptions.

• Technical jargon/ professional terminology may play havoc for the respondents. It may be possible
that the questionnaire is returned with substantial number of unanswered questions.
• Complex worded questions also fetch poor results.

• There is a possibility that the questionnaire may be biased. It may not have included certain
important questions, due to the preference of the researcher.

• Verification of the accuracy of the responses received from questionnaires might be difficult.