1. METHODOLOGY INTERVIEW & QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M
METHODOLOGY INTERVIEW & QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M. Anthony Language & Communication Department FSTPi, UTHM

2. alice@copyright/fstpi/2012
INTERVIEW
Interviewing plays an important role in the process of gathering information.
Another person in the field may be the best, most up-to-date source for the information you need.
Library materials in fast- changing fields may be out-dated.
Talking to authorities is an excellent way not only to verify information, but to expand and adapt info learned about in print.

3. INTERVIEW How to Do an Interview??? INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES!!!
THE SEVEN GUIDELINES FOR AN INTERVIEW

4. SEVEN INTERVIEW GUIDELINES
Prepare your approach carefully.
Make a question list.
Do not trust to memory.
Keep your interruptions to a minimum.
If you cannot understand an explanation, ask question.
When subjects rumble, return to your question list.
When your time is up, be sure to keep the lines of communication open.

5. 1. PREPARE YOUR APPROACH CAREFULLY
Preparation is the basis for a successful interview.
People are busy; they would stop for interview only if they sense that it is not a waste of time.
If you approach the people you want to interview too casually, they are less likely to clear time for you.
Before you ask for an interview, do your homework:
- Do background reading, note taking and collection of
data.
- If you are writing for an appointment make the wording
of the letter clear.
- For a telephone approach, identify yourself and quickly
establish your need to know.

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2. MAKE A QUESTION LIST
To keep yourself and your interviewee on track, make a list of questions.
A question list will help you guide discursive interviewees and maintain your focus on the point.
You will need questions;
- to get the interview started
- to keep the discussion on track
- to open up different areas of discussion
Start with questions that will put the interviewee at ease.
You can use open-ended or closed-end questions.
Do not ask two questions at once.
Your last question should be, Is there anything else you want to add?

7. 3. DO NOT TRUST TO MEMORY/ KEEP A RECORD
You need to take notes on the interview.
Shorten your notes so that you are able to write down the material you need.
You will need practice to abbreviate some points.
Tape recorders are the obvious solution where detail is dense and you are bombarded with data.
Be sure to request permission before you begin.
Even if you do tape, take notes too.
If you are busy writing, the interviewee will be less aware of the tape and will tend to relax more.

8. 4. KEEP INTERRUPTIONS TO A MINIMUM
Nod from time to time to show you are interested.
Make occasional short comment that shows you are attending.
Do not stop the flow of information by saying ‘Excuse me, could you stop for a moment? I just cannot keep up.’
Some interview subjects become impatient if you stop them repeatedly.

9. 5. IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND;REPHRASE
The research you do before the interview will give you some understanding of the terminology.
If it is not sufficient;
- ‘Could you state that in language a layperson
could understand?’
- ‘Did I understand you to say ….’ and then
rephrase what the subject said.
If you have made a mistake, your subject will correct the error on the sport.

10. 6. WHEN SUBJECT RAMBLE- RETURN TO QUESTION LIST
Some talkative interviewees may use one of your questions to launch themselves into long irrelevant explanations.
Avoid this by letting them ramble for a short time only.
As soon as there is a natural pause , quickly murmur a polite expression like “that’s very interesting” and then immediately to the question you want answered.
Try to get the subject back on track.
If that does not work, at the next pause summarize what has been said in a sentence and then say, “Good. Could you also tell me about …. ?

11. 7. WHEN TIME IS UP, BE SURE TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN
Ask your interviewee if you can keep in touch.
- I would appreciate your feedback when I have finished
this, if you are willing.
If possible, arrange to send subjects draft copies of the documents you are working on.
If they are experts, their feedback will help guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the project.
You are not obliged to change the document in the light of their comments, but it is likely that such feedback will help you write a better document.

12. METHODOLOGY QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M
METHODOLOGY QUESTIONNAIRE - Dr. Elizabeth M. Anthony Language & Communication Department FSTPi, UTHM

13. alice@copyright/fstpi/2012
QUESTIONNAIRE
A form containing a set of questions, especially
one addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information for a survey.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
The questionnaire as a whole should be attractive and easily read.
It should not be so long that it makes responding burdensome task.
The items should be in a logical sequence to hold the interest of the respondent.
Instructions should be concise and clear, with examples if necessary.
A cover letter should set the stage for responding.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
Begin with items that request background information.
Open-ended items should appear toward the end of the questionnaire.
The questionnaire should not begin with an open-ended item that requires extensive writing.
The layout should not appear crowded.
The items should be easy to respond to.
Items and pages should be numbered.
An item and its response options must be on the same page, and the options must fit the item.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM CONSTRUCTION
Items are to be clear. Avoid vague words, technical terms and jargon.
Include only one concept in a single item.
Avoid the use of leading questions.
Avoid questions that demand personal information.
Request only information that the respondent is able to provide.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM CONSTRUCTION cont …
Shorter items are preferred to longer items.
When requesting quantitative information, ask for a specific number rather than an average.
Avoid unwarranted assumptions.
Avoid negative items.
The options for response to an item should be mutually exclusive.
Try to make the task of completing the questionnaire as easy as possible for the respondent so that it can be done efficiently and without confusion.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM FORMAT
There are two general types of items used:
(1) selected-response or forced-choice items.
- respondents select from two or more options.
(2) open-ended items.
- respondents construct a response.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM FORMAT cont …
SELECTED- RESPONSE ITEM (SRI)
- enhance consistency of response
- data tabulation generally is straightforward and less
time-consuming.
- has the disadvantage of possibly ‘boxing-in’ the
respondent on the breadth of the response.
- generally requires more time and effort to construct.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM FORMAT cont …
OPEN-ENDED ITEM (OEI)
- allows the individual more freedom of response.
- responses tend to be inconsistent in length and
sometimes in content.
- both questions and responses are open to
misinterpretation.
- irrelevant information may be included in the response.
- more difficult to analyze.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
ITEM FORMAT cont …
- the OEI is more flexible and less structured than SRI.
- A SRI commonly used is the Likert scale;
a scale with a number of points that
provide ordinal scale measurements. A
set of related responses, one for each
point, is provided. Response is made by
checking a point or circling a letter/number
representing a point on the scale.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
Each set of item has to have simple and clear instruction.
SAMPLE ITEMS
(i) Please Tick [ / ]
Male [ ] Female [ ]

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QUESTIONNAIRE
SAMPLE ITEMS cont …
(ii) Please rank the following in order of
importance.
__ Eating __ Praying __ Dating
__ Sleeping __ Exercising

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QUESTIONNAIRE
SAMPLE ITEMS cont …
(iii) Circle and indicate your level of satisfaction with
this course. Use the 5-point scale for each
characteristic.
[1- Very Dissatisfied 2- Somewhat Dissatisfied
3- Neutral Somewhat Satisfied 5- Very Satisfied]
Amount and usefulness of knowledge/skill obtained

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QUESTIONNAIRE
SAMPLE ITEMS cont …
(iv) Circle your option.
What is the total income of the family per month?
A. Less than RM
B. RM – RM
C. RM – RM
D. Above RM

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QUESTIONNAIRE
SAMPLE ITEMS cont …
(iv) Write your opinion.
(a) What do you think is the best solution?
(b) Please suggest any areas of
improvement.

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THE COVER LETTER
Is an essential part of any survey involving a questionnaire.
It is the mechanism for introducing individuals to the questionnaire and motivating them to respond.
It should be straightforward, explaining the purpose and potential value of the survey.
It should be on the letterhead of a professional organization/institution.
It should be signed by someone in a professional position.