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Questions and Answers
What are the three basic techniques for gathering information mentioned in the text?
In qualitative research, how are surveys commonly conducted?
How do researchers using mixed methods gather information initially, according to the text?
What is a limitation of using questionnaires in criminal justice research?
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Why are questionnaires preferred over interviews for large-scale data collection in criminal justice research?
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What is a potential disadvantage of using fixed-alternative questions in surveys?
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When should sensitive questions be placed in a questionnaire?
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What is the purpose of pretesting questions with different response categories?
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Why should response categories for fixed-alternative questions be mutually exclusive and exhaustive?
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Which factor significantly impacts the quality of information collected in a survey?
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What type of questions generally yield more accurate responses compared to open-ended questions?
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What is crucial for completing a questionnaire?
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What is an important consideration regarding the length of a questionnaire?
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What should be included in the cover letter or introductory statement for a survey?
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What is an important final step in survey design according to ethical considerations?
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What is the purpose of pretesting questionnaires?
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Why is precoding questionnaires particularly useful for fixed-alternative questions?
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What is the benefit of determining a precoding system in advance for survey data?
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What is the purpose of coding in questionnaire data analysis?
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What is the Likert scale format commonly used for in questionnaire design?
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Why is pretesting the questionnaire crucial before distribution?
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What is a key advantage of online surveys over traditional methods?
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What is a consideration when using follow-up techniques for obtaining non-returned questionnaires?
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What feature do online survey platforms provide that enhances questionnaire design?
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What is a potential challenge when sampling for online surveys?
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What is a potential consequence of self-selection bias in online surveys?
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What is a criticism of online surveys based on representativeness?
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What can lead to questionable information on online community members in surveys?
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How may motivated individuals on platforms like MTurk impact study findings?
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What may be a potential difficulty in establishing a population for the sampling frame in online communities?
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What distinguishes a structured, standardized interview from an unstructured or informal interview?
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In a standardized interview, what is typically read by the researcher following each question?
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What is the primary difference between a structured, standardized interview and an unstructured or informal interview?
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What is a potential disadvantage of using telephone surveys?
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How are nonverbal cues in assessing interviewee responses affected by telephone surveys?
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What is a potential impact of the changing public behavior from phone calls to texting and internet browsing?
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What is a significant advantage of using texted links to internet-based surveys for researchers using the phone for surveying?
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What may disproportionately impact the homeless, transients, and lower social classes in terms of telephone surveys?
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What is a potential challenge for telephone surveys in terms of language problems with selected interviewees?
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What is a challenge associated with using telephone surveys?
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What is a significant factor contributing to the popularity of telephone surveys?
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What is a crucial consideration for accurate recording and interpretation of responses in interviews?
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What is a key consideration for the interviewer in informal interviews?
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In what type of research strategies are informal interviews commonly used?
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What is the focus of semi-structured informal interviews mentioned in the text?
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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.