6.1.8

Questionnaires

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Questionnaires

Questionnaires

Questionnaires

  • A questionnaire is a written list of questions asked to the participants of the study. They can be:
    • Posted.
    • Handed.
    • Online.
    • Face-to-face (structured interview.)
Using questionnaires

Using questionnaires

  • Questionnaires are an appropriate tool when:
    • It involves large populations.
    • Participants are scattered in many places.
    • It might cover a sensitive issue and participants don’t feel embarrassed to answer an anonymous questionnaire.
Using questionnaires cont.

Using questionnaires cont.

  • Questionnaires are an appropriate tool when:
    • The researcher wants to produce quantitative data in order to draw patterns and trends more easily.
    • Participants are literate and educated so that they can answer questions properly, therefore giving accurate answers.
Designing a questionnaire

Designing a questionnaire

  • The researcher needs to clearly state the purpose of the study.
  • Instructions for the completion of the questionnaire are needed to produce valid answers.
  • Length and wording of the questionnaire should be respondent-friendly.
Designing a questionnaire cont.

Designing a questionnaire cont.

  • Informed consent should be obtained.
  • A pilot study will help the sociologist avoid conducting a study that won’t be reliable and valid as it will highlight possible areas of improvement.

Evaluating Questionnaires

Advantages

Advantages

  • Questionnaires can be cheaper than other methods, but they are not always cheap as it depends on the size of the sample and the number of questions.
  • Questionnaires overcome problems of time, money and access.
  • Using closed questions ('yes' or 'no' answers) usually produce quantitative data, which makes it easier for the researcher to draw patterns and trends.
Advantages cont.

Advantages cont.

  • They are usually reliable as it is easier to replicate them.
  • Using open questions allows the respondent to elaborate on their answer which can provide rich and valid data.
Disadvantages

Disadvantages

  • If questions are closed, they can’t provide rich data.
  • If questions are open, they take too much time and possibly money to analyse and identify any possible patterns and trends.
  • Low response rate might affect the accuracy of the results as the sample might not be representative.
Disadvantages cont.

Disadvantages cont.

  • Since the questions are predetermined, they might be seen as biased as the researcher already has an idea about how the respondent might answer.
  • Researchers won't be able to use the body language of respondents to identify whether or not they are telling the truth.
Jump to other topics
1

The Sociological Approach

1.1

Introduction to Sociology

1.1.1What is Sociology?1.1.2Culture & Socialisation
1.2

Sociological Approaches

1.2.1Marxism1.2.2Marxism 21.2.3Functionalism1.2.4Feminism
1.3

The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate

1.3.1The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Sociological Approach
2

Families

2.1

Functions of Families

2.1.1Functionalist Views on Family2.1.2Marxist Views on Family2.1.3Feminist Views on Family
2.2

Family Forms

2.2.1What is a Family?2.2.2Nuclear Family2.2.3Families in a Global Context2.2.4The Rapoports & Family Diversity2.2.5Causes of Family Diversity2.2.6End of Topic Test - Family Forms
2.3

Conjugal Role Relationships

2.3.1Conjugal Roles
2.4

Changing Relationships Within Families

2.4.1Timeline2.4.2Domestic Abuse2.4.3Symmetrical Family
2.5

Criticisms of Families

2.5.1Functionalist Views of Families2.5.2Marxist Views of Families2.5.3Feminist Views of Families2.5.4Declining Marriage Rate2.5.5End of Topic Test - Criticisms of Families
2.6

Divorce

2.6.1Reasons For Rise in Divorce Rate2.6.2Consequences of Divorce2.6.3Functionalist Views2.6.4Marxist Views2.6.5Feminist Views2.6.6End of Topic Test - Divorce
3

Education

3.1

Roles & Functions of Education

3.1.1The Functionalist Approach3.1.2Evaluating Different Perspectives3.1.3Types of School3.1.4Alternative Education3.1.5State & Private Schools
3.2

Processes Within Schools

3.2.1Internal Processes3.2.2External Processes
3.3

Educational Achievement

3.3.1Measuring Educational Success3.3.2Social Class & Education3.3.3Social Class & External Factors3.3.4Gender & Education3.3.5Ethnicity & Education3.3.6Parental Choice3.3.7History of UK Education Policy3.3.8Recent UK Education Policy3.3.9End of Topic Test - Education
4

Crime & Deviance

4.1

The Social Construction of Crime

4.1.1Defining Crime & Deviance4.1.2Sociological Explanations of Crime4.1.3Interactionist Explanations of Crime4.1.4Alternative Explanations of Crime
4.2

Social Control

4.2.1Informal Social Control4.2.2Formal Social Control4.2.3End of Topic Test - Social Construction of Crime
4.3

Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

4.3.1Explanations of Crime4.3.2Social Class & Crime4.3.3Gender & Crime4.3.4Ethnicity & Crime4.3.5Age & Crime4.3.6Criminal Responsibility4.3.7The Prison System4.3.8Media Reporting of Crime4.3.9Functionalist Explanations of Crime
4.4

Data on Crime

4.4.1Measuring Crime4.4.2End of Topic Test - Criminal & Deviant Behaviour
5

Social Stratification

5.1

Social Stratification

5.1.1What is Social Stratification?5.1.2Functionalism5.1.3Socio-Economic Class5.1.4Socio-Economic Class 25.1.5Life Chances5.1.6The Affluent Worker5.1.7End of Topic Test - Social Stratifictaion
5.2

Poverty as a Social Issue

5.2.1Defining Poverty5.2.2Factors Affecting Poverty5.2.3Explanations of Poverty5.2.4Impact of Globalisation5.2.5End of Topic Test - Poverty as a Social Issue
5.3

Power & Authority

5.3.1Weber5.3.2Sociological Perspectives5.3.3Power Relationships5.3.4End of Topic Test - Power & Authority
6

Sociological Research Methods

6.1

Research Methods

6.1.1Research Design6.1.2The Scientific Method6.1.3Other Considerations6.1.4Primary Sources6.1.5Secondary Sources6.1.6Surveys6.1.7Sampling6.1.8Questionnaires6.1.9Interviews6.1.10Observation6.1.11Statistics6.1.12Case Studies6.1.13Longitudinal Studies6.1.14Ethnography6.1.15Experiments6.1.16Small Scale Research6.1.17End of Topic Test - Research Methods

Practice questions on Questionnaires

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What are the different types of questionnaires?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    A researcher must first conduct an initial study that will highlight possible areas of improvement for the questionnaire. What is this initial study called?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which types of question allow the respondent to elaborate, which can provide rich and valid data?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What kinds of problems are overcome by using questionnaires?Fill in the list
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Sampling

Interviews