Quantitative RESEARCH INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION

Questionnaire, Interview, Observation Reading.

Questionnaires A questionnaire is simply a ‘tool’ for

collecting and recording information about a particular issue of interest. It is mainly made up of a list of questions, but should also include clear instructions and space for answers or administrative details.

Types of Questionnaires

Structured or closed formunstructured, open ended form

Structured Questionnaires

in which some control or guidance is given for the answer. This may be described as closed form because the questions are basically short, requiring the respondent to provide a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. It may, also be multiple choice Options from which the respondent selects the answer closer to their own opinion. The respondent's choices are limited to the set of options provided.

Types of questionnaires:

Postal questionnaire Telephone questionnaire Electronic questionnaire Personally Administered

Types of questions:

Closed ended questions Yes/no question Multiple choices Scaled questions

Advantages of a structured questionnaire:

The researcher is able to contact large numbers of people quickly, easily and efficiently using a postal questionnaire. Questionnaires are relatively quick and easy to create and interpret (especially if closed

questions are used). A questionnaire is easy to standardize. For example, every respondent is asked the same question in the same way

cont The researcher, therefore, can be sure that everyone in the sample answers exactly the same questions, which makes this a very reliable method of research. Questionnaires can be used to explore potentially embarrassing areas (such as criminal matters) more easily than other methods.

Disadvantages of a structured questionnaire:

The format of questionnaire design makes it difficult for the researcher to examine complex issues and opinions.Where the researcher is not present, it's always difficult to know whether or not a respondent has understood a question properly.

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The researcher has to hope the questions asked mean the same to all the respondents as they do to the researcher. The response rate (that is, the number of questionnaires that are actually returned to the researcher) tends to be very low for postal questionnaires.

Interviews Interviews become necessary when

researchers feel the need to meet face-to-face with individuals to interact and generate ideas in a discourse that borders on mutual interest. It is an interaction in which oral questions are posed by the interviewer to elicit oral response from the interviewee or respondent.

Types of interview

structured interview unstructured interview non-directive interview focus interview.

Structured Interviews

In structured interview, the interviewer follows a set pattern usually adhering as much as possible to the order of questions on the interview questionnaire whilst posing the questions in a formal manner.

cont The Structured Interviews are formal because, sets of questions known as interview questionnaire are posed to each interviewee visited and the responses are recorded

on a standardized schedule. Interviewers must always ensure that the atmosphere of an interview is congenial to establish interviewer-interviewee rapport.

Advantages of structured interview

It enables the researcher to examine the level of understanding a respondent has about a particular topic All respondents are asked the same questions in the same way. This makes it easy to repeat (“replicate”) the interview Provides a reliable source of quantitative data.

cont• The researcher is able to contact large numbers of

people quickly, easily and efficiently.• There is a formal relationship between the

researcher and the respondent with the latter knowing exactly what is required from them in the interview If, for example, a respondent is unable or unwilling to answer a question the researcher (because they are present at the interview) is aware of the reasons for a failure to answer all questions.

Disadvantages of structured interview

Can be time consuming if sample group is very large The quality and usefulness of the information is highly dependent upon the quality of the questions asked. The interviewer cannot add or subtract questions. There is limited scope for the respondent to answer questions in any detail or depth

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There is the possibility that the presence of the researcher may influence the way a respondent answers various questions, thereby biasing the responses. Like aggressive interview does not show the real opinion of respondent .