THE QUESTIONNAIRE

 

Definition

 

•    a list of planned, written questions related to a particular topic, with space provided for indicating the response to each question, intended for submission to a number of persons for reply

•     commonly used in behavioral research or social research

 

Advantages of the Questionnaire

 

1. The questionnaire is easy to construct.

2. Distribution is easy and inexpensive.

3. Responses are easy to tabulate.

4. The respondent’s replies are free.

5. Confidential information may be given freely.

6. The respondent can fill out the questionnaire at will.

7. The respondents can give more accurate replies.

 

Disadvantages of a Questionnaire

 

1. The questionnaire cannot be used with those who cannot read nor write well, especially those who are totally illiterate.

2. If many respondents may not return the filled up copies of the questionnaire purposely or forgetfully, considerable follow-ups are necessary.

3. If a respondent gives a wrong information, it cannot be corrected at once.

4. A respondent may leave some or many questions unanswered because nobody urges him to do so or he may not understand the significance of the information he gives.

5. Some questions may be vague and so the respondent may not answer them or if he does, he may give wrong replies.

6. The number of choices may be so limited that the respondent may be forced to select responses that are not his actual choices.

 

Construction of a Questionnaire

 

There are some steps in the preparation of a questionnaire, some of which are the following:

1. Doing library research.

2. Talking to knowledgeable people.

3. Mastering the guidelines.

4. Writing the questionnaire.

5. Editing the questionnaire.

6. Rewriting the questionnaire.

7. Pretesting the questionnaire.

8. Writing the questionnaire I its final form.

 

Types of questions asked in survey questionnaires

 

1. According to form:

 

1. The free-answer type.

§         Also called the open form, open-ended, subjective, unrestricted, essay, and unguided response type.

§         The respondent answers the question in his own world and in his own way.

 

2. The guided response type

§         Also called the closed form or restricted type

§         The respondent is guided in making his reply.

§         There are two kinds of this type:

a.      Recall type

Example: Please supply the information asked for: Age ___ Sex ____ Date of birth (exact) ____    Place of birth

b.      Recognition types. The possible responses are given and respondent selects his answer.

                                                                                                         i.            Dichotomous. There are only two options and one is selected.

Example: Are you married? Yes ____ No ____

                                                                                                      ii.            Multiple choice. Only one answer is chosen from those given as options.

Example: What is your highest educational attainment.

Please put a check mark before your reply.

_____ Elementary graduate

_____ High school graduate

_____ College graduate

 

                                                                                                    iii.            Multiple response. Two or more options may be chosen.

Example: Why do you use toothpaste in brushing your teeth? Place check marks before your choices.

_____ It prevents tooth decay

_____ It freshens the breath

_____ It is soothing to the mouth

_____ It is cheap

_____ It is imported

             

2. According to the kind of data asked for

 

a)      Descriptive (verbal) data

What kind of house do you live in? Please check

_____ Concrete           _____ Semi-Concrete Wooden

_____ Bamboo            _____ Others

 

b)      Quantified (numerical) data

1)      How old are you? _____

2)      What is your average monthly income? P _____

 

c)      Intensity of feeling, emotion, or attitude

Do you agree to have only one day election, set for local and national elective officials?

_____ Strongly agree

_____ Agree

_____ Fairly agree

_____ Disagree

_____ Strongly disagree

 

d)      Degree of judgment

How serious is the problem (drug addiction, drinking, stealing, etc.)?

_____ Very serious

_____ Serious

_____ Fairly serious

_____ Not serious

_____ Not a problem

How adequate are the facilities

_____ Very adequate

_____ Adequate

_____ Fairly adequate

_____ Inadequate

_____ Very inadequate

 

e)      Understanding

Explain what democracy is.

 

f)        Reasoning

Why do you prefer democracy over dictatorship?

 

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