Questionnaire

Questionnaire

• The questionnaire is a tool that uses questioning as a strategy to gather responses. It consists of a set of written questions which calls for responses on the part of individual (s) or the subject (s).

⚫ It is a very concise, preplanned set of questions to elicit information about the feelings, beliefs, experiences, perceptions, or attitudes on a selected topic. The questionnaire may be self- administered, or group administered.

Types of Questionnaire

The questionnaire may be closed ended and open ended. Let us study about theses as follows:

⚫ Closed ended Questionnaire: It consists of a list of pre-decided questions with forced choices. The respondent is required to choose one of choices from the set of multiple options provided.

• Open Ended Questionnaire: It consists of list of pre decided questions where there is a scope to provide descriptive and subjective responses.

Advantages of Questionnaire

⚫ Administering questionnaires involves low cost and is less time-consuming.

Information can be collected from a large number of individuals in a relatively short period of time

• Each respondent receives the same set of questions phrased in exactly the same way. Questionnaires may, therefore, yield data more comparable than information obtained through an Interview.

Disadvantages of Questionnaire

⚫ It can only be conducted with literate respondents.

⚫ There is no scope to clarify meanings or explain the questions and the responses.

There is no scope for follow-up questions.

It has a low return rate ie... the respondent may not return the filled in questionnaire. • There is a possibility that the respondent may not answer all the questions.

⚫ Information can be collected from a large number of individuals in a relatively short period of time

⚫ Each respondent receives the same set of questions phrased in exactly the same way. Questionnaires may, therefore, yield data more comparable than information obtained through an interview.

Disadvantages of Questionnaire

⚫ It can only be conducted with literate respondents.

• There is no scope to clarify meanings or explain the questions and the responses.

⚫ There is no scope for follow-up questions.

⚫ It has a low return rate ie., the respondent may not return the filled in questionnaire. ⚫ There is a possibility that the respondent may not answer all the questions.

Factors to be kept in Mind While Preparing a Questionnaire • Wording, sequence of questions and instructions have to be carefully prepared

Confidentiality must be ensured

• Sufficient blank space must be provided in case of open-ended questionnaire.

• The questionnaire may be provided to the respondents in their local language.

Differences between Questionnaire and Interview

Interview -Questionnaire

1 Takes place in face-to-face -Administered through a printed form

2 Except for infants and young children, can be used with everyone -Can only be used with literate persons

3 Time consuming -Less time consuming

4 Can be done with only a small number of people at a particular time - Can be administered to a large number of people at a particular time

5 The analyses of responses is complex - Relatively easy to analyses as the responses are received in predefined categories

6 The meaning of questions can be clarified the interviewee in face to-face situation. - The subjects make their own interpretation since the doubts cannot be clarified

7 Possible to have an in-depth understanding about the respondent - Limits the responses of the respondent since about the respondent it close-ended. 

8 Only socially desirable responses may be obtained - Anonymity while answering the questionnaire allows respondents to be more honest

9. Constructing an interview schedule is relatively easy - Construction of close-ended question is time consuming and complex.