Survey Questionnaire Design

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Questions and Answers

What are the three basic techniques for gathering information mentioned in the text?

Direct observation, conducting experiments, analyzing data

Direct observation, communication with others, learning from recorded sources (correct)

Reading books, watching films, using the internet

Interviews, surveys, questionnaire-based research

In qualitative research, how are surveys commonly conducted?

Through communication with others about observations

By questionnaire, with respondents reading questions and recording their own responses

By interview, with an interviewer asking questions and recording responses (correct)

By direct observation and physical evidence collection

How do researchers using mixed methods gather information initially, according to the text?

By using recorded sources of information such as books and newspapers

By using a questionnaire to gather information initially and then interviewing respondents (correct)

By relying solely on direct observation

By conducting experiments and then analyzing the data

What is a limitation of using questionnaires in criminal justice research?

Potential misinterpretation of questions and responses Signup and view all the answers

Why are questionnaires preferred over interviews for large-scale data collection in criminal justice research?

Time and resource efficiency Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of using fixed-alternative questions in surveys?

Respondents may feel compelled to choose an option that doesn't fit Signup and view all the answers

When should sensitive questions be placed in a questionnaire?

Towards the end to increase the likelihood of cooperation from respondents Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of pretesting questions with different response categories?

To help in choosing the best question format for a given set of respondents Signup and view all the answers

Why should response categories for fixed-alternative questions be mutually exclusive and exhaustive?

To ensure all possible responses are covered without overlap Signup and view all the answers

Which factor significantly impacts the quality of information collected in a survey?

The wording of survey questions and response categories Signup and view all the answers

What type of questions generally yield more accurate responses compared to open-ended questions?

Fixed-alternative questions Signup and view all the answers

What is crucial for completing a questionnaire?

Clear instructions Signup and view all the answers

What is an important consideration regarding the length of a questionnaire?

Capturing all necessary information while respecting respondents' time Signup and view all the answers

What should be included in the cover letter or introductory statement for a survey?

Emphasizing the survey's importance and ensuring confidentiality Signup and view all the answers

What is an important final step in survey design according to ethical considerations?

Expressing gratitude for respondents' time and cooperation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of pretesting questionnaires?

To identify and eliminate problem areas before distributing to the study group Signup and view all the answers

Why is precoding questionnaires particularly useful for fixed-alternative questions?

It allows for assigning code numbers to each alternative response before administering the questionnaire Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of determining a precoding system in advance for survey data?

It facilitates systematic analysis with or without the aid of a computer Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of coding in questionnaire data analysis?

To substitute numerical symbols for verbal or numerical symbols in raw data Signup and view all the answers

What is the Likert scale format commonly used for in questionnaire design?

Measuring attitudes Signup and view all the answers

Why is pretesting the questionnaire crucial before distribution?

To make necessary modifications and ensure data accuracy Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of online surveys over traditional methods?

Access to populations that exist only in cyberspace Signup and view all the answers

What is a consideration when using follow-up techniques for obtaining non-returned questionnaires?

Respecting promised anonymity and weighing costs against response rate gains Signup and view all the answers

What feature do online survey platforms provide that enhances questionnaire design?

Options for designing professional-looking questionnaires and automating skip patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential challenge when sampling for online surveys?

Identifying potential respondents in online communities may be difficult Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of self-selection bias in online surveys?

Limiting the generalizability of study findings Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of online surveys based on representativeness?

Certain groups like the poor, homeless, and elderly may not have internet access Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to questionable information on online community members in surveys?

Information on online community members may be questionable if registration is not required Signup and view all the answers

How may motivated individuals on platforms like MTurk impact study findings?

Limiting the generalizability of study findings Signup and view all the answers

What may be a potential difficulty in establishing a population for the sampling frame in online communities?

Sampling for online surveys can be challenging Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a structured, standardized interview from an unstructured or informal interview?

A structured interview has fixed-question content and composition, while an unstructured interview is more flexible in both the questions used and the directions taken Signup and view all the answers

In a standardized interview, what is typically read by the researcher following each question?

A set of fixed alternatives or standardized responses Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between a structured, standardized interview and an unstructured or informal interview?

A structured interview has a fixed-question content and composition, while an unstructured interview is more flexible in both the questions used and the directions taken Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of using telephone surveys?

Difficulty of collecting lengthy, in-depth responses Signup and view all the answers

How are nonverbal cues in assessing interviewee responses affected by telephone surveys?

Largely eliminated Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential impact of the changing public behavior from phone calls to texting and internet browsing?

Negatively affects telephone surveys Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of using texted links to internet-based surveys for researchers using the phone for surveying?

Increased participation Signup and view all the answers

What may disproportionately impact the homeless, transients, and lower social classes in terms of telephone surveys?

Elimination due to lack of telephones Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential challenge for telephone surveys in terms of language problems with selected interviewees?

Mitigated if interviewers speak multiple languages fluently Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge associated with using telephone surveys?

Decreased cooperativeness due to increased use of phones for activities like texting and internet browsing Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor contributing to the popularity of telephone surveys?

Quick completion and ability to reach large numbers of people Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial consideration for accurate recording and interpretation of responses in interviews?

Careful separation of interpretations from responses Signup and view all the answers

What is a key consideration for the interviewer in informal interviews?

Establishing rapport with respondents Signup and view all the answers

In what type of research strategies are informal interviews commonly used?

Qualitative research strategies Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of semi-structured informal interviews mentioned in the text?

Offenders’ thoughts prior to, during, and after robberies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Designing Effective Survey Questionnaires

The wording of survey questions and response categories significantly impacts the quality of the information collected.
Fixed-alternative questions, such as providing options for gender, generally yield more accurate responses compared to open-ended questions.
Skilled researchers tailor questions and response options based on both the research topic and respondent characteristics.
Clear instructions for completing the questionnaire are crucial, including guidance on filling in blanks, circling responses, or using codes to indicate answers.
The length of the questionnaire is an important consideration, as it must capture all necessary information while respecting respondents' time.
The appearance of the questionnaire is essential; a professional and easy-to-read format encourages completion.
A cover letter or introductory statement emphasizing the survey's importance and ensuring confidentiality can encourage honest and complete responses.
Ethical considerations dictate that researchers must abide by statements regarding anonymity and the use of survey results.
Instructions for returning mailed questionnaires, including time frames and self-addressed envelopes, should be included in the cover letter.
Online questionnaires also require clear instructions for submission, typically provided after the respondent clicks "submit."
Researchers should clearly identify themselves and their institutional affiliation in the survey materials, including a complete signature block.
Expressing gratitude for respondents' time and cooperation is an important final step in survey design.

Critiques of Online Surveys

Online surveys allow researchers to target specific demographics
Some criticism of online surveys is based on representativeness
Certain groups like the poor, homeless, and elderly may not have internet access
Sampling for online surveys can be challenging
Identifying potential respondents in online communities may be difficult
Regular contributors, sporadic participants, and lurkers can all participate in online surveys
Information on online community members may be questionable if registration is not required
Establishing a population for the sampling frame is difficult for many online communities
Obtaining a membership email list from online community managers may have its own issues
Self-selection bias can lead to systematic bias in online surveys
Motivated individuals on platforms such as MTurk may limit the generalizability of study findings
Researchers can attempt to overcome issues by developing rapport with online community members

Informal Interviews in Exploratory Studies

Informal interviews are used in exploratory studies to gather more detailed or extensive information than structured interviews.
These interviews use open-ended questions and the order of questions may not be completely predetermined.
They provide insightful, extensive information about research topics, emotions, and attitudes of the respondent.
Informal interviews are commonly used in qualitative research strategies, especially in criminal justice research.
Interviews may include both highly structured questions and open-ended ones.
The researcher must focus on establishing rapport with respondents, determining the truthfulness of responses, and using the right questioning techniques.
Steps to establish rapport include producing credentials, answering questions about the research project, and assuring confidentiality.
The interviewer's personal appearance and presentation significantly impact the rapport with the respondents.
Maintaining a neutral attitude towards the issues is crucial for the interviewer, to avoid influencing the respondent's answers.
The interviewer needs to probe to learn the basis for, and truthfulness of, responses without suggesting any particular response to the interviewee.
An example of conducting interviews involved in-depth interviews with 86 active armed robbers recruited from the streets of St. Louis, Missouri.
The semi-structured informal interviews focused on the offenders’ thoughts prior to, during, and after robberies and were left open-ended, taped, and transcribed for analysis.

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Description

Test your knowledge of designing effective survey questionnaires with this quiz. Learn about the impact of question wording, response options, and questionnaire length on data quality. Explore the importance of clear instructions, ethical considerations, and the appearance of the questionnaire. Gain insights into encouraging honest responses and ensuring survey completion.