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CONTENTS… Interview Schedule and Mailed Questionnaire
Construction of Schedule and Questionnaire
Construction of Questions
Mechanics of the Schedule and Questionnaire
Characteristics of a good Schedule/ Questionnaire
Advantages of Questionnaires
Disadvantages
INTRODUCTION
The various methods of data gathering involves the
use of appropriate recording forms.
These are called tools or instruments of data collection.
They consist of observation schedule, questionnaire,
etc.
Each of the above tool is used for a specific method
of data gathering.
The tool for data collection translates the
research objective into specific questions,
the response to which will provide the data
required to achieve the research objective.
Information gathered through the tools
provide descriptions of characteristics of
individuals, institutions or other
phenomena under study.
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE AND MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE
The term schedule and questionnaire are used
synonymously by most of the researchers.
Very thin distinction between these terms.
The schedules are those used in personal interview
whereas questionnaires are the forms distributed
through mail.
Schedule is a device in social science
research which is most frequently used in
collecting field data specially where the survey
method is employed.
It is used in direct interview
SCHEDULE
According to Goode & Hatt “ Schedule
is the name usually applied in a set of
questions which are asked and filled in by an
interviewer in a face to face situation with
another person”.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Questionnaire means a set of questions developed
in an organized and orderly manner for gaining
information from the people in relation to a given
problem.
It is used to collect data from diverse, large and
widely scattered social group.
One important factor that differentiate
questionnaire and other means of data
collection is that questionnaire is self
administered.
The appropriateness of questionnaires
will depend on;
The type of information required
The type of respondent reached
The accessibility of respondent
The precision of hypothesis
Before Sending The Questionnaire The
Following Precautions Should Be Exercised
A covering letter with needed instruction must be sent
The covering letter should be worded in the language known
to the respondent
It should mention the need for the study and under whose
auspicious the study is conducted
CONSTRUCTION OF SCHEDULES AND QUESTIONNAIRES
The process of construction of a schedule and questionnaire is almost same. It involves the following steps;
Data need Determination
Preparation of Dummy tables
Determination of respondent’s level
Data gathering method decision
Instrument drafting
Evaluation of the draft instrument
Pre testing
Specification of procedures/instrument
Designing the format
DATA NEED DETERMINATION
This is the first step in the construction of a
questionnaire
Data need can be determined by a deep analysis of
the research objective, the investigative
questions relating to each research objective,
hypothesis and the operational definitions of the
concepts used in them
PREPARATION OF DUMMY TABLES
We are concerned with adequate coverage of the
information required for the study and also with
securing the information in the most usable
form.
The best way to ensure these requirements is to
develop dummy tables in which to display the data to
be gathered.
This will help to identify gaps and duplications in
the instrument and enable the designer to make
appropriate additions, corrections, and deletions.
DETERMINATION OF RESPONDENT’S LEVEL
The researcher have to understand;
Who are our respondents?
Are they persons with specialized knowledge
relating to the problem under study?
What is their level of knowledge and
understanding
Knowledge about these are necessary
because the choice of words and concepts
depends upon the level of respondent’s
knowledge
DATA GATHERING METHOD DECISION
At this stage we must choose the method of
collection of data to be used, which communication
mode is most appropriate – face to face , interview or
mailing.
INSTRUMENT DRAFTING
After determining the data required for the study
First a broad outline of the instrument may be
drafted, listing the various broad categories of data
Second the sequence of the grouping must be
decided. they must be arranged in a logical order
Third the question to be asked under each group
heading must be listed
EVALUATION OF THE DRAFT INSTRUMENT
Researcher must examine each question
in the draft instrument on the basis of the
following criteria.
The relevance of each question to the research
objective and investigative questions
The appropriateness of the type of question ,open
ended or structured
The clarity and un ambiguity of the question
The practicability of the question, it should not
demand knowledge that the respondent does not
possess
The validity of the question
The instrument should cover the subject but does
not include irrelevant items
PRE - TESTING
The revised draft must be pre tested in
order to identify the weaknesses of the
instrument and to make the required further
revisions to rectify them.
SPECIFICATIONS OF PROCEDURES / INSTRUCTIONS
The procedures and instructions related
to the use of the instrument should be
specified to ensure that;
Different interviewers will deal with specific
questions in a standardized manner.
The definition of concepts and variables should be
given.
The procedure for recording responses and
approaches to deal with various interview
situations must also be specified
A good covering letter should also be
drafted
DESIGNING THE FORMAT
The format should be suited to the needs of the
research.
The instrument should be divided into different
sections relating to the different aspects of the
problem.
Each section heading should be printed in thick /
bold letters.
There must be more space for the answer
of each open ended question
There should be space between one
question and another
CONSTRUCTION OF QUESTIONS
Question construction involves four
major decision areas
1. QUESTION RELEVANCE AND CONTENT
2. QUESTION WORDING
3. RESPONSE FORM
4. QUESTION ORDER / SEQUENCE
QUESTION RELEVANCE AND CONTENTS
While preparing the questions the respondents
knowledge of the subject ,ability, willingness etc
must be weighted properly.
If the questionnaire is for educated people we can
ask questions with standards or with rich
contents otherwise the subject content must be
minimum.
Questions to be included in the instrument
should pass certain tests;
Is it relevant to the research objectives?
Can it yield significant information for answering an
investigative question if not it should not be
include.
If a question passes the relevant test we
should then consider its coverage
Is it of proper scope
If it covers two separate ideas, then it is a
double barreled question requiring spacing
Does the question provide the information
needed to interpret the response fully
QUESTION WORDING OR LANGUAGE
Question designer should choose words
which have the following characteristics;
Use simple and familiar language
Make the question concise
Avoid leading questions
Be specific and explicit
Make the question self explanatory
Avoid ambiguous questions
Allow maximum alternatives
Avoid double barreled questions
Avoid presuming questions
Avoid vague questions.
Avoid hypothetical questions
Avoid questions which involves prestige
Avoid advance categorization
Avoid embarrassing questions
RESPONSE FORM / TYPE OF QUESTIONS
The third major area in the
questionnaire construction is the type of
questions to be included in the instrument.
They may be classified into
Open Ended Questions : This type consist of
questions which are written in specific language but
the respondents are free to give answers in their own
words
Closed questions : in closed question not
only the questions but also the answers are
already given in the questionnaire .
Type Of Questions To Be Avoided
Following are the type of questions to be
avoided while designing a questionnaire
Leading questions
Loaded questions
Ambiguous questions
Double barreled questions
Long questions
Double negative questions
QUESTION ORDER OR SEQUENCE
The questions should be arranged in a proper order
If it is not in the proper order it will affect the
response and accuracy of response
The question sequencing has two dimensions
Overall Sequence : the sequence among topical
areas within the instrument
Intra Sequence : sequence within a topical area
OVERALL SEQUENCE
The researcher is a stranger to the respondent and
the latter are under no obligation to answer.
They may also have some doubts about their
competence to answer research questions.
Therefore the investigator’s first challenge is to
awaken the respondent’s interest in the study and
motivate participation.
In order to bring about this the instrument
should begin with attention catching and
non controversial and simple but interesting
questions.
INTRA SEQUENCE
There are two general pattern in
arranging the questions within a specific
topical area. They are;
The funnel sequence :
The inverted funnel sequence :
Another requirement in arranging
question is to avoid context effect , that is the
influence of one question on another.
MECHANICS OF THE SCHEDULE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
In addition to the question wording and
construction the mechanics of the form should
also be considered in the design of a schedule /
questionnaire.
The mechanics of the form has the
following aspects
Instructions
Item of the form
Pre – coding
Sectionalization
Spacing
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SCHEDULE / QUESTIONNAIRE
It asks for and obtains all the information required
for achieving the objectives.
It contains questions relevant to the study.
It does not aim at obtaining any information which
can be more accurately
and effectively obtained by other data gathering
methods like observation
It contain no question that are unclear,
ambiguous , double , leading and long.
It does not contain questions which are
beyond the memory span of respondent
It contain questions that can be answered as
quickly and as easily as possible
It contains no open ended or discussion question
unless they are absolutely necessary
It does not restrict the choice of answers.
Choice of closed questions should be adequate,
reasonable
No embarrassing questions are given without
providing an opportunity to explain.
Interrelated questions are so positioned as to
avoid context effect.
Questions and alternative answer choices
are properly coded.
Design requirements like margin , spacing ,
etc are taken care off.
Appropriate introduction and instructions are
included.
The instrument has been adequately pre –
tested and revised so as to be a
satisfactory tool for the particular survey.
ADVANTAGES OF MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE
Cheaper in cost.
Covers larger area.
Saving in time.
Free flow of response.
Validity , reliability and accuracy.
Problems of non contact.
LIMITATIONS OF MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE
It needs higher rate of literacy.
Probing not possible.
Responses will not be independent.
Poor response.
Bias.
REFERENCES1. K Ravichandran, S Nakkiran – INTRODUCTION
TO RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE –
Abhijeet publications Delhi 2009
2.O R Krishna swami, M Ranga Nathan –
METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL
SCIENCE- Himalaya Publishing house Mumbai 1983
3.Sotirious Sarantakos- SOCIAL RESEARCH-
Charles sturt university,Australia,1998
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