CONTENTS… Interview Schedule and Mailed Questionnaire

Construction of Schedule and Questionnaire

Construction of Questions

Mechanics of the Schedule and Questionnaire

Characteristics of a good Schedule/ Questionnaire

Advantages of Questionnaires

Disadvantages

INTRODUCTION

The various methods of data gathering involves the

use of appropriate recording forms.

These are called tools or instruments of data collection.

They consist of observation schedule, questionnaire,

etc.

Each of the above tool is used for a specific method

of data gathering.

The tool for data collection translates the

research objective into specific questions,

the response to which will provide the data

required to achieve the research objective.

Information gathered through the tools

provide descriptions of characteristics of

individuals, institutions or other

phenomena under study.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE AND MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE

The term schedule and questionnaire are used

synonymously by most of the researchers.

Very thin distinction between these terms.

The schedules are those used in personal interview

whereas questionnaires are the forms distributed

through mail.

Schedule is a device in social science

research which is most frequently used in

collecting field data specially where the survey

method is employed.

It is used in direct interview

SCHEDULE

According to Goode & Hatt “ Schedule

is the name usually applied in a set of

questions which are asked and filled in by an

interviewer in a face to face situation with

another person”.

QUESTIONNAIRE

Questionnaire means a set of questions developed

in an organized and orderly manner for gaining

information from the people in relation to a given

problem.

It is used to collect data from diverse, large and

widely scattered social group.

One important factor that differentiate

questionnaire and other means of data

collection is that questionnaire is self

administered.

The appropriateness of questionnaires

will depend on;

The type of information required

The type of respondent reached

The accessibility of respondent

The precision of hypothesis

Before Sending The Questionnaire The

Following Precautions Should Be Exercised

A covering letter with needed instruction must be sent

The covering letter should be worded in the language known

to the respondent

It should mention the need for the study and under whose

auspicious the study is conducted

CONSTRUCTION OF SCHEDULES AND QUESTIONNAIRES

The process of construction of a schedule and questionnaire is almost same. It involves the following steps;

Data need Determination

Preparation of Dummy tables

Determination of respondent’s level

Data gathering method decision

Instrument drafting

Evaluation of the draft instrument

Pre testing

Specification of procedures/instrument

Designing the format

DATA NEED DETERMINATION

This is the first step in the construction of a

questionnaire

Data need can be determined by a deep analysis of

the research objective, the investigative

questions relating to each research objective,

hypothesis and the operational definitions of the

concepts used in them

Data need determination will help us to

decide on what questions to ask

PREPARATION OF DUMMY TABLES

We are concerned with adequate coverage of the

information required for the study and also with

securing the information in the most usable

form.

The best way to ensure these requirements is to

develop dummy tables in which to display the data to

be gathered.

This will help to identify gaps and duplications in

the instrument and enable the designer to make

appropriate additions, corrections, and deletions.

DETERMINATION OF RESPONDENT’S LEVEL

The researcher have to understand;

Who are our respondents?

Are they persons with specialized knowledge

relating to the problem under study?

What is their level of knowledge and

understanding

Knowledge about these are necessary

because the choice of words and concepts

depends upon the level of respondent’s

knowledge

DATA GATHERING METHOD DECISION

At this stage we must choose the method of

collection of data to be used, which communication

mode is most appropriate – face to face , interview or

mailing.

INSTRUMENT DRAFTING

After determining the data required for the study

First a broad outline of the instrument may be

drafted, listing the various broad categories of data

Second the sequence of the grouping must be

decided. they must be arranged in a logical order

Third the question to be asked under each group

heading must be listed

EVALUATION OF THE DRAFT INSTRUMENT

Researcher must examine each question

in the draft instrument on the basis of the

following criteria.

The relevance of each question to the research

objective and investigative questions

The appropriateness of the type of question ,open

ended or structured

The clarity and un ambiguity of the question

The practicability of the question, it should not

demand knowledge that the respondent does not

possess

The validity of the question

The instrument should cover the subject but does

not include irrelevant items

PRE - TESTING

The revised draft must be pre tested in

order to identify the weaknesses of the

instrument and to make the required further

revisions to rectify them.

SPECIFICATIONS OF PROCEDURES / INSTRUCTIONS

The procedures and instructions related

to the use of the instrument should be

specified to ensure that;

Different interviewers will deal with specific

questions in a standardized manner.

The definition of concepts and variables should be

given.

The procedure for recording responses and

approaches to deal with various interview

situations must also be specified

A good covering letter should also be

drafted

DESIGNING THE FORMAT

The format should be suited to the needs of the

research.

The instrument should be divided into different

sections relating to the different aspects of the

problem.

Each section heading should be printed in thick /

bold letters.

There must be more space for the answer

of each open ended question

There should be space between one

question and another

CONSTRUCTION OF QUESTIONS

Question construction involves four

major decision areas

1. QUESTION RELEVANCE AND CONTENT

2. QUESTION WORDING

3. RESPONSE FORM

4. QUESTION ORDER / SEQUENCE

QUESTION RELEVANCE AND CONTENTS

While preparing the questions the respondents

knowledge of the subject ,ability, willingness etc

must be weighted properly.

If the questionnaire is for educated people we can

ask questions with standards or with rich

contents otherwise the subject content must be

minimum.

Questions should not overtax the

respondents recall ability.

Questions to be included in the instrument

should pass certain tests;

Is it relevant to the research objectives?

Can it yield significant information for answering an

investigative question if not it should not be

include.

If a question passes the relevant test we

should then consider its coverage

Is it of proper scope

If it covers two separate ideas, then it is a

double barreled question requiring spacing

Does the question provide the information

needed to interpret the response fully

QUESTION WORDING OR LANGUAGE

Question designer should choose words

which have the following characteristics;

Use simple and familiar language

Make the question concise

Avoid leading questions

Be specific and explicit

Make the question self explanatory

Avoid ambiguous questions

Allow maximum alternatives

Avoid double barreled questions

Avoid presuming questions

Avoid vague questions.

Avoid hypothetical questions

Avoid questions which involves prestige

Avoid advance categorization

Avoid embarrassing questions

RESPONSE FORM / TYPE OF QUESTIONS

The third major area in the

questionnaire construction is the type of

questions to be included in the instrument.

They may be classified into

Open Ended Questions : This type consist of

questions which are written in specific language but

the respondents are free to give answers in their own

words

Closed questions : in closed question not

only the questions but also the answers are

already given in the questionnaire .

Closed questions may be;

Two choice questions

Multiple choice questions

Declarative Questions

Type Of Questions To Be Avoided

Following are the type of questions to be

avoided while designing a questionnaire

Leading questions

Loaded questions

Ambiguous questions

Double barreled questions

Long questions

Double negative questions

QUESTION ORDER OR SEQUENCE

The questions should be arranged in a proper order

If it is not in the proper order it will affect the

response and accuracy of response

The question sequencing has two dimensions

Overall Sequence : the sequence among topical

areas within the instrument

Intra Sequence : sequence within a topical area

OVERALL SEQUENCE

The researcher is a stranger to the respondent and

the latter are under no obligation to answer.

They may also have some doubts about their

competence to answer research questions.

Therefore the investigator’s first challenge is to

awaken the respondent’s interest in the study and

motivate participation.

In order to bring about this the instrument

should begin with attention catching and

non controversial and simple but interesting

questions.

INTRA SEQUENCE

There are two general pattern in

arranging the questions within a specific

topical area. They are;

The funnel sequence :

The inverted funnel sequence :

Another requirement in arranging

question is to avoid context effect , that is the

influence of one question on another.

MECHANICS OF THE SCHEDULE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

In addition to the question wording and

construction the mechanics of the form should

also be considered in the design of a schedule /

questionnaire.

The mechanics of the form has the

following aspects

Instructions

Item of the form

Pre – coding

Sectionalization

Spacing

Paper

Printing

Margins

Indentation

Note of thanks

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD SCHEDULE / QUESTIONNAIRE

It asks for and obtains all the information required

for achieving the objectives.

It contains questions relevant to the study.

It does not aim at obtaining any information which

can be more accurately

and effectively obtained by other data gathering

methods like observation

It contain no question that are unclear,

ambiguous , double , leading and long.

It does not contain questions which are

beyond the memory span of respondent

It contain questions that can be answered as

quickly and as easily as possible

It contains no open ended or discussion question

unless they are absolutely necessary

It does not restrict the choice of answers.

Choice of closed questions should be adequate,

reasonable

No embarrassing questions are given without

providing an opportunity to explain.

Interrelated questions are so positioned as to

avoid context effect.

Questions and alternative answer choices

are properly coded.

Design requirements like margin , spacing ,

etc are taken care off.

Appropriate introduction and instructions are

included.

The instrument has been adequately pre –

tested and revised so as to be a

satisfactory tool for the particular survey.

ADVANTAGES OF MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE

Cheaper in cost.

Covers larger area.

Saving in time.

Free flow of response.

Validity , reliability and accuracy.

Problems of non contact.

LIMITATIONS OF MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE

It needs higher rate of literacy.

Probing not possible.

Responses will not be independent.

Poor response.

Bias.

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES1. K Ravichandran, S Nakkiran – INTRODUCTION

TO RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE –

Abhijeet publications Delhi 2009

2.O R Krishna swami, M Ranga Nathan –

METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL

SCIENCE- Himalaya Publishing house Mumbai 1983

3.Sotirious Sarantakos- SOCIAL RESEARCH-

Charles sturt university,Australia,1998