Questionnaires Questionnaires are one the most commonly used research methods. There are many types of questionnaires which are used for different reasons. By the end of this topic you should: > Know the different types of questions used in questionnaires & the different methods of delivering them: > Evaluate the strengths & limitations of questionnaires. > Be able to apply your understanding of questionnaires to the study of education.

Questionnaires > Questionnaires are a list of Pre-Set questions These questions are usually: Closed/Pre-Coded Questions 1) Are you Religious? Yes q No q E.g. but could also include… Open-Ended Questions 1) Are you Religious? ………………………………….. As part of this topic you will expected to know why different researchers might choose to use these different types of questions…… > What type of sociological researcher might use Closed-Ended/ Pre-Coded Qs? > Why might Positivists prefer these types of questions? > What type of sociological researcher might use Open-Ended Qs? > Why might Interpretivists prefer these types of questions?

Strengths & Weaknesses of Closed-Ended/ Pre-Coded Questions: Open-Ended Questions: Strengths: Weaknesses: Strengths: Weaknesses: > Ambiguous Questions > Standardised Data > In-Depth, Detailed information > Ambiguous Questions > Easy to Quantify > Long Drawn-out Answers (Time) > Restricts Responses > Answers are not restricted (no imposition problem) > Easy to Compare & Contrast > Imposition Problem (Researcher decides the responses) > Difficult to Quantify > High in Reliability > Quick to Complete > Difficult to make Comparisons > Lacks Validity > High in Reliability > Lacks Reliability

Administering Questionnaires There are many ways in which questionnaires can be administered: Self Administered/ Self Completion: > These are questionnaires that are distributed in person, completed on the spot, then collected in: Weaknesses: Strengths: > Ambiguous Questions (Lack of an Interviewer) > Quick & Easy to Complete (Not an Interview) > May be expensive (Might need to employ ‘Helpers’) > Time Consuming (Administered in Person) > Easier to answer personal questions > Lowers Researcher Effects > High Response Rate > Generally Small Scale (Lacks Unrepresentative & Ungeneralisable) > Respondents Reply at Own Leisure (Validity?)

Postal Questionnaires: > These are questionnaires distributed through the post or by email to be completed by the respondent and then posted back to the researcher. Weaknesses: Strengths: > Large Scale (Representative & Generalisable) > Ambiguous Questions (Lack of an Interviewer) > Not everyone has a fixed address/ access to email > Cost could become an issue > Relatively Cheap > Respondents Reply at Own Leisure (Validity) > Potentially Low-Response Rate > Easier to answer personal questions > Not being taken Seriously > No Guarantee on who is filling them out > Rules Out Interviewer Bias

Interviewer ‘Present’ – Structured Interviews: Questionnaires can be administered by an interviewer, either in person (Face-to-Face) or over the phone, with the respondent. This is essentially a STRUCTURED INTERVIEW. The Questionnaire becomes an INTERVEIW SCHEDULE. Weaknesses: Strengths: > High Response Rate > Restrictive Interview Schedule – Can’t Probe > Interviewer can explain ambiguous Qs (Validity) > Time Consuming > Phone Calls can be Expensive > Less problem with Interviewer Bias > Possibility that Respondents might feel Intimidated > Relatively Quick > Build a Rapport with the Respondent > Possibility of Interviewer Bias