Questionnaire as a Tool of Data Collection in Empirical Research

Journal of Positive School Psychology http://journalppw.com

2022, Vol. 6, No. 5, 7697–7699

Trupti Rathi

, Dr. Bindu Ronald

Teaching Associate, Symbiosis Law School, Pune (Constituent of Symbiosis International

(Deemed University), India

Professor, Symbiosis Law School, Pune (Constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed

University), India

Abstract

The questionnaire is a highly used tool of data collection as compared to interview and observation in

empirical research. The paper is intended to make the reader acquainted with types of questions, viz.,

Fixed or Close Response Questions, Open-End Questions and Mixed Questions. The authors have

also commented on the advantages and Disadvantages/De-merits of the questionnaire as a tool of data

collection in empirical research and the requirement of a covering letter.

Keywords— Tools of data collection, questions, types of questions, advantages and disadvantages of

the questionnaire

I. INTRODUCTION

The questionnaire is an important and freely

used tool for data collection in empirical

research. The questionnaire in simple words, is

a bunch of questions used to collect information

or data from the people in relation to the given

problem. In the questionnaire, a bunch of

questions is posted to the respondent through e-

mail or any other mode of communication. The

questionnaire tool of data collection is most

helpful when the number of respondents is huge

and geographically scattered.

Ill-developed and wrongly worded questions

may not yield the expected results. It is

important to note that questionnaires shall be

pre-tested in order to verify their aptness and

clarity. Skill to develop questions is crucial

while preparing a questionnaire, interview

schedule, interview guide or questions for

structured and semi-structured interviews. The

object of a good questionnaire is to obtain the

best possible response from respondents. If you

want a better answer, ask the best question.

II. TYPES OF QUESTIONS

Questions are of three kinds, viz., Fixed or

Close Response Questions, Open-End

Questions and Mixed Questions. Selection of

the type of question depends upon various

factors, such as the nature of the problem, the

nature of the information required and the

nature of the respondent. Following are the

types of the questionnaire:

2.1. Fixed or close response/Multiple choice

questions:

In this type of question, two or more choices are

provided to the respondent. The respondent has

to choose the option(s) from multiple options

provided by the researcher. This type of

question is easy to reply, record and analyze.

The researcher can easily count the responses

provided by the respondents. There are two

fundamental disadvantages of the fixed

response questions. Firstly, the respondent is

forced to choose the response from the options

provided and secondly, detailed information

about the problem/phenomenon under

investigation cannot be collected. In order to

solve the first problem after the fixed options,

‘any other________’ option may be provided.

Providing 'any other____' option depends upon

the nature of the data required. ‘Any other ___’

option need not be provided when the

researcher requires a precise response to test the

hypothesis or to answer the research objective

and question.

Trupti Rathi, et. al. 7698

2.2. Open End Questions:

In open-end questions, specific questions are

asked and the respondent is free to respond to

the question in his own language and in his own

way. No alternative or suggested reply is

provided in the open-end questions. This type

of question can be useful if you do not know the

possible answers to questions or for gathering

insightful or unexpected information.

This tool

of data collection is also employed when the

information is quantitative in nature. This

category of questions is difficult to answer,

time-consuming, and difficult to analyze.

Example: What are the causes of female

foeticide in India? And the respondent is

allowed to answer it without providing a list of

causes or fixed responses.

2.3. Mixed type of questions:

This type of question is a mixture of both fixed

responses and open-end questions. Mixed

questions are useful to achieve the objectives of

both the above-mentioned types of questions.

Example: Do you think there is a need of a

Uniform Civil Code in India?

Options: 1) Yes □⁫ 2) No □

If yes, explain/why: __________.

If no, why? _______________.

III. ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES OF

QUESTIONNAIRE TOOL OF DATA

COLLECTION:

3.1. Advantages of questionnaire tool of data

collection:

1) Compared to other tools of data collection

questionnaire tool is cost, time, energy and

resource-saving.

2) The questionnaire tool of data collection

has less administrative hassles compared to

other tools of data collection.

3) The questionnaire tool of data collection is

useful though the population is huge and

geographically scattered.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/bri

ef14.pdf, visited on 19/04/22

4) The respondent gets time to ponder upon

the questions. Therefore, he/she can

answer it in adequate depth and clarity.

5) Perceptions, views and opinions of the

researcher/interviewer do not get reflected

in the respondent's responses. In the

interview, the response may be prompted

by the interviewer/researcher. In the

interview and observation tool of data

collection, there is a possibility of

reflection of the opinion, perception or

biases of the researcher/interviewer. In this

sense, the data collected through the

questionnaire tool is more reliable.

3.2. Disadvantages/De-merits:

1) The researcher requires a mail list of the

respondents.

2) There is a possibility of less responses

from respondents; the questionnaire may

not be sent back to the researcher.

3) The researcher/interviewer cannot keep the

respondent on track. He or she may

provide extra or irrelevant information,

particularly in reply to open-ended

questions.

4) The researcher may not get clarification

from the respondent in case of ambiguity

or inconsistency in responses.

5) The response of the respondent cannot be

easily verified. In an interview, the

interviewer has an opportunity to verify the

responses immediately after the conclusion

of the interview.

6) The data may not be complete and

accurate. All questions may not be

responded by the respondent.

7) This tool of data collection cannot be used

when the population is illiterate or not

ready to share the information.

8) Usually, people prefer talking than writing

a questionnaire.

9) Misunderstanding and ambiguity of the

question cannot be easily corrected.

Sometimes even a simple question may be

interpreted differently. For example: If the

question is: What is your marital status?

Expected information: single, married,

7699 Journal of Positive School Psychology

divorced, widowed or separated. The

respondent’s reply may be -Fine, Good, as

could be expected; I’ll have to ask my

wife.

10) It is not a suitable tool for long

investigation on complex issues.

11) In open-ended questions, the respondent

may provide too much or too little

information.

12) The researcher may not have the skill to

develop a quality questionnaire. The

formulation of good questions is a much

more subtle and frustrating task than is

generally believed to be by those who have

not actually attempted it.

IV. COVERING LETTER

Apart from the above, a letter of appeal or

covering letter and a self-addressed envelope

with the requisite stamp shall be sent with the

questionnaire. A covering letter shall contain

brief background and objectives of the study.

The letter shall contain a phone number, e-mail

and contact detail with an appeal to contact in

case of any doubt or further clarification. It

shall also include assurance of confidentiality of

the data, date of return of the questionnaire and

signature of the researcher.

The researcher needs to maintain a proper

record of dispatch so that he/she can keep track

of the questionnaire.

V. CONCLUSION

Though the questionnaire is a freely used tool

of data collection, it has its own limitations and

advantages. The researcher can counter these

limitations by applying the correct type of

questionnaire, a combination of two or more

types of questionnaire or a combination of

questionnaire and observation or questionnaire

and interview tool of data collection.

See, Good and Hatt, Methods in Social Research

(1981), McGraw-Hill Book

Company, P. 133.

Good and Hatt, Methods in Social Research

(1981), McGraw-Hill Book

Company, P. 132.

REFERENCES

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluat

ion/pdf/brief14.pdf, visited on 19/04/22

[2] See, Good and Hatt, Methods in Social

Research (1981), McGraw-Hill Book

Company, P. 133.

[3] Good and Hatt, Methods in Social

Research (1981), McGraw-Hill Book

Company, P. 132.