Questionnaires

What is a questionnaire?1. A set of questions on a given topic2. A way to collect information not

available elsewhere (like opinions or people’s views on a topic)

3. A secondary source of information

Why are questionnaires important?

1.Find out a person’s views and opinions on a specific subject, such as their favourite TV shows or why they should recycle

2.Be able to find information not already researched on a specific topic, such as the number of young people with a mobile phone

Types of questionnaire• Face to Face

Advantages Disadvantages

People are more likely to answer questions.

The interviewer can ask more complex questions and explain them if necessary.

It takes a long time.

As it's less anonymous, the interviewee is more likely to lie or to refuse to answer a question.

Types of questionnaire• Phone

Advantages Disadvantages

People may feel more comfortable answering personal questions because they can't see the interviewer.

Phone calls can be expensive.

It is difficult to get people's phone numbers.

Calling people at random can annoy them.

Types of questionnaire• Post

Advantages Disadvantages

People might have more time to answer the questions at home.

It's anonymous, so the person answering the questions is less likely to lie or be embarrassed.

People might not bother to return their questionnaires.

There's no interviewer to explain questions that are not understood.

Types of questionnaire• Internet

Advantages Disadvantages

Saves time because you don't have to call or talk to people.

Answers are anonymous, so people are more likely to answer honestly.

There's no contact with the people you're questioning.

Good techniques1. Easy to understand questions 2. Well worded questions to avoid

confusion3. Test with a friend first4. Easy layout like circle answers, tick

boxes5. Nice design to keep interest

Bad techniques1. Avoid personal questions like: “how

much money do you earn”2. Avoid embarrassing or upsetting

questions like: “do you wash regularly”

3. Avoid biased or leading questions like: “you like chocolate don’t you”

HypothesisEach questionnaire will need a hypothesis. This will be proved either true or false.

This is what you think the questionnaire will show, the question that you wish to ask, or the information you would like to find out.

For example: the local council may wish to ask if people recycle, so they can work out whether to put more bin lorries on. Therefore:

“The people living in our council are recycling more of their waste so we need more bin lorries”

The questionnaire will prove this as true or false depending on the answers given.

HypothesisOther hypothesis could be:

Everybody under 20 owns a mobile phone

Only young people watch digital TV

Only 5 % of households recycle their rubbish

Question typesQuestions can either be:

1. Open: the person can answer in any way they want, with their own thoughts and feelings

2. Closed: the person chooses from one of several options, normally yes or no

Question typesOpen questions:

1. What is you favourite colour?

2. How does living in Wales make you feel?

Question typesClosed questions:

1. What’s your favourite TV channel?1. BBC2. ITV3. Channel 44. Channel 55. Sky

Answering questionsPeople will want to answer in a quick and easy way.

Popular choices include:Yes / NoCircle answer Tick boxes

AnalysisYou’ve designed and created your questionnaire.

You’ve given it out and received it back completed….what now?

Now you need to analyse your results to see what people think.

AnalysisSome times you may need to create a report to show your results.

The easiest way to show you results is either:

TableBar graphPie ChartOr in words

AnalysisTable:

What’s your favourite TV channel?BBC 3

ITV 2

Channel 4 1

Channel 5 0

Sky 4

AnalysisBar Graph:

BBC ITV Channel 4 Channel 5 Sky0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5What's you favourite TV channel?

AnalysisPie Chart:

BBC; 3

ITV; 2

Channel 4; 1

Sky; 4

What's you favourite TV channel?

BBCITVChannel 4Channel 5Sky

AnalysisIn words: From the question “What is your favourite TV channel”, 4 people said Sky, whilst 3 said BBC, 2 said ITV, 1 said Channel 4 and 0 said Channel 5. This shows that…

ReportsOnce you have got all your information you will need to present it.

The report is the document you give your boss with all your finds, including an explanation of your research findings.

ReportsYour report will need:

1. An introduction. What is the questionnaire about and why? Include your hypothesis

2. Questions and results. Explain the findings of each questions with diagrams (charts, graphs, tables)

3. Conclusions. What does your questionnaire tell us?