Asking Questions Dr. Guerette

Appropriate Topics Counting Crime Counting Crime Asking respondents about their victimization or offenders about their criminal activity. Asking respondents about their victimization or offenders about their criminal activity. Self Reports Self Reports Asking people about the crimes the may have committed. Asking people about the crimes the may have committed. Perceptions & Attitudes Perceptions & Attitudes Learning how people feel about crime and criminal justice policy. Learning how people feel about crime and criminal justice policy.

Appropriate Topics Targeted Victim Surveys Targeted Victim Surveys Focus upon victimization at the city or neighborhood level. Focus upon victimization at the city or neighborhood level. Other Evaluation Uses Other Evaluation Uses May be appropriate for applied studies like assessing neighborhood attitudes about policing. May be appropriate for applied studies like assessing neighborhood attitudes about policing. General Purpose Crime Surveys General Purpose Crime Surveys Finding out about topics such as fear of crime, security measures would be examples as is the British Crime Survey. Finding out about topics such as fear of crime, security measures would be examples as is the British Crime Survey.

Guidelines for Asking Questions Open-ended Questions Open-ended Questions The respondent is asked to provide his or her own answers. The respondent is asked to provide his or her own answers. Closed-ended Questions Closed-ended Questions The respondent is asked to select an answer from among a list provided by the researcher. The respondent is asked to select an answer from among a list provided by the researcher. Questions & Statements Questions & Statements Questionnaires contain both questions and statements Questionnaires contain both questions and statements

Guidelines for Asking Questions Concerns Concerns Items must be clear and unambiguous. Items must be clear and unambiguous. Short items are the best Short items are the best Do not use questions in the negative form Do not use questions in the negative form Avoid wording that will bias an answer Avoid wording that will bias an answer Designing self-report items Designing self-report items Social desirability must be a concern Social desirability must be a concern

Questionnaire Construction General Questionnaire Format General Questionnaire Format Questionnaires should be spread out, uncluttered and not too long. Questionnaires should be spread out, uncluttered and not too long. Contingency Questions Contingency Questions The subsequent questions in a series are contingent upon the response to the first question in the series. The subsequent questions in a series are contingent upon the response to the first question in the series. Matrix Questions Matrix Questions Used when several questions have the same set of answer categories. Used when several questions have the same set of answer categories. Ordering of Questions Ordering of Questions

Self-Administered Questionnaires Typically done in a mailed format, these are the least expensive and the easiest to complete. Typically done in a mailed format, these are the least expensive and the easiest to complete. Mail Distribution & Return Mail Distribution & Return Include a letter of explanation, self-addressed stamped envelope and avoid certain months of the year for mailing purposes. Include a letter of explanation, self-addressed stamped envelope and avoid certain months of the year for mailing purposes.

Self-Administered Questionnaires Warning Mailings & Cover Letters Warning Mailings & Cover Letters After sample selection, send a postcard to the address you have asking for an address correction. Cover letters show institutional affiliation or sponsorship of the survey. After sample selection, send a postcard to the address you have asking for an address correction. Cover letters show institutional affiliation or sponsorship of the survey. Follow Up Mailings Follow Up Mailings After several weeks, send follow-ups to increase your return rate. After several weeks, send follow-ups to increase your return rate.

Self-Administered Questionnaires Acceptable Response Rates Acceptable Response Rates Computer-Assisted Self-Administration Computer-Assisted Self-Administration Can be done in several ways, using a disk-based survey, surveys, in order to save time and money. Can be done in several ways, using a disk-based survey, surveys, in order to save time and money.

In-Person Interview Surveys Face to face interviews are best for complex questionnaires and other specialized needs. Face to face interviews are best for complex questionnaires and other specialized needs. Role of the Interviewer Role of the Interviewer Should be a neutral medium through which questions and answers are transmitted. Should be a neutral medium through which questions and answers are transmitted.

In-Person Interview Surveys General Rules for Interviewing General Rules for Interviewing 1. Appearance and demeanor - dress like the people you will interview 2. Know the questionnaire. 3. Be prepared to probe for responses when the respondent does not understand or is vague. 4. Be trained properly and have each interviewer supervised.

In-Person Interview Surveys Computer-Assisted In-Person Interviews Computer-Assisted In-Person Interviews Laptops and handheld computers can be used with preloaded questionnaires. Laptops and handheld computers can be used with preloaded questionnaires. Telephone Surveys Telephone Surveys The fastest and relatively low cost The fastest and relatively low cost Random Digit Dialing Random Digit Dialing Computer-Assisted Computer-Assisted

Comparing the Three Methods Cost Cost Self-administered questionnaires are best Self-administered questionnaires are best Speed Speed Telephone surveys using CATI technologies are fastest Telephone surveys using CATI technologies are fastest Question content Question content Self-administered questionnaires best for dealing with sensitive issues. Self-administered questionnaires best for dealing with sensitive issues.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Survey Methods High on reliability High on reliability High on generalizability High on generalizability Low on validity Low on validity

Other Ways of Asking Questions Specialized Interviews Specialized Interviews Focus upon the views and opinions of only those individuals who are interviewed without generalizing back to a larger population. Focus upon the views and opinions of only those individuals who are interviewed without generalizing back to a larger population. Focus Groups Focus Groups Contains 8-15 people who are brought together in a room to engage in a guided group discussion on some topic. Contains 8-15 people who are brought together in a room to engage in a guided group discussion on some topic.

In Class Exercise Imagine you are studying the extent of academic dishonesty at one particular university. Academic dishonesty includes behavior such as cheating on exams, and plagiarism. The questions you are interested in answering include the following: Imagine you are studying the extent of academic dishonesty at one particular university. Academic dishonesty includes behavior such as cheating on exams, and plagiarism. The questions you are interested in answering include the following: 1. Students in which college majors are the most likely to engage in academic dishonesty? 2. Students in which year (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) are most likely to engage in academic dishonesty? 3. Who is more likely to cheat on an exam: males or females? 4. Are males or females more likely to plagiarize a paper?

In Class Exercise, cont. You have chosen to use confidential questionnaires in your research. Your task in this exercise is to actually construct a questionnaire. When constructing this questionnaire, be sure to use each of the following at least once: You have chosen to use confidential questionnaires in your research. Your task in this exercise is to actually construct a questionnaire. When constructing this questionnaire, be sure to use each of the following at least once: Open-ended questions Open-ended questions Closed-ended questions Closed-ended questions Matrix questions Matrix questions Contingency questions Contingency questions