1. 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.

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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?)

5. Postal Questionnaires:
> These are questionnaires distributed through the post or by 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
> 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

6. 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