Use of Questionnaires - Coursework Example

Running Head: Research Research Name Course Lecturer Date Introduction Quality data collection is important to the progression of knowledge in different research discipline. As such, various developments have been experienced in various techniques for data collection. Data collection refers to the process of gathering and evaluating information on variables of interest. This process is carried out in a systematic fashion that allows a researcher to answer research questions, test the hypothesis and assess the outcomes. Data collection is a common component to various fields of study. All discipline emphasizes the use of honest and accurate collection of the data. Regardless of the discipline of preference or study, for defining data, appropriate and accurate data collection is significant in order the integrity of research is maintained. There are various consequences that are experienced as a result of inappropriate collection of data. In order to avoid them a researcher should maintain quality assurance and quality control. Researchers may choose from a wide variety of methods of collecting data. The most common used methods include questionnaire, interviewing and secondary data. Choosing one method over another involves an assessment the weakness and strengths of each with respect to various different factors. The research aim is to choose the best data collection strategy to compliment the specific requirement of the research. Use of Questionnaires Use of questionnaire is one of the methods that have been used in data collection. There are various significant issues that a researcher must consider while trying to increase the strength and decrease the weaknesses of questionnaire. A questionnaire is a tool used in the collection and recording of information about a specific issue of interest. It consists of list of questions, instructions and space for answering the administrative or answers details. All questionnaires should have a purpose that is related to the main objectives of a research. In addition, it should be clear from the beginning how the findings obtained are to be used. The structured questionnaires are mainly associated with quantitative research. A questionnaire may be used in various survey situations, for instance, face to face, electronic, and postal and telephone. Questionnaires are mainly used to gather information so as to classify people and their situations, to gather information that is related to people’s behavior and to look at key opinions of a group relating to a specific issue. Questionnaires should be used to assess complex issue, difficult, new or controversial issues (Leeuw, 2005). It is essential to note that there are other researches that do not use questionnaire as a method of collecting data. As a method of collecting data, questionnaires has several strengths that include; a researcher is able to contact many people at a low cost, the response that is gathered is in a standardized way, therefore, they are more objectives, collection of information is fast, may be done by relatively unskilled people and can be answered anonymously. Various weaknesses have been also been associated with questionnaire as a method of collecting data. Firstly, as evaluation occurs after an event, the likelihood that a participant will forget important issues is high. Secondly, a questionnaire is standardized therefore; it is not possible to explain points in the questionnaire that a participant might misinterpret. Thirdly, open ended questions may generate a great amount of data that may take long to analyze and process. Finally, the participant may not be willing to answer the questions; this might not reveal the correct and needed information. There are significant issues that the researchers must consider while trying to increase the strengths while minimizing the weaknesses of the questionnaires. Questionnaires design is one of the issues that should be used to maximize the strength of the questionnaires. It is important to note that a questionnaire is used as a basic tool in research. As such, it should be designed in such a way that it is easy to understand, interpret and easy to complete it. Indeed, this will enhance the accuracy of responses. Two concepts are important in questionnaires design: validity and reliability. Validity refers to the ability to measure the variables of interest while reliability is the consistence of a measure. It is noted that in the past researchers relied mostly on reliability as it is easy to measure. Nevertheless, without validity, reliability is useless. One may be reliably be testing for something different from the actual test. For instance, one may be testing for interface layout but a respondent may give responses for aesthetics. Questionnaire structure and length is another issue to consider. It is typically said that questionnaires should not be very long. Participants’ short attention span basically indicates that long questionnaires are inadequately and less accurately completed. This is because people rush in order to finish. This is also obvious for questions that are repeated. A participant tends to repeat what they had said earlier on whether accurate or not. A major problem with long questionnaires is that there is likelihood that a participant will skim reading the questions. This increases chances of a participant misinterpreting multifaceted questions. It is also a problem with instructions or background information that is given at the start of a questionnaire. However, some problems may be counteracted with accurate design of these questionnaires. Some researchers have argued that there are no fixed or limited questions in a questionnaire. The motivation felt by a participant to complete a questionnaire is seen to affect how much they are ready to concentrate on filling the questionnaire. For instance, a participant who perceives that the results of the research will be a benefit may feel motivated to complete the questionnaire. In cases where a participant feels the outcome of the research is irrelevant, they feel less motivated in completion of the questionnaire. Therefore, for any researcher, there is need to understand these variations when piloting and designing a questionnaires. According to King (2002) to increase the effectiveness and usability of a questionnaire tool it is vital how a researcher structure it. The sequences of the questionnaires should be reviewed carefully. Questions that are grouped together under one themed heading, will assist a respond contextualize the successive questions. Indeed, this approach will also assist in identifying how a sequence will affect a participant. In fact, the sequence of the questions may affect the way a participant may answer the questionnaire, either in a biased or unbiased way. This is also obvious in a response scale. Here, a participant may give similar answers in the whole section. In order for researchers to counter this, they may counterbalance the questions that are negative and positive statement. However, in designing this researcher should be careful as it may cause errors. Tilley (2003) asserts that in designing question for the questionnaire, it is important that each question have same meaning for every participant. In addition, the frame of the reference should be clear. One way to overcome these problems is by providing definitions. Most of the researchers give scenarios at the beginning of specific sections to contextualize questions. According Temple & Young (2004) keeping questions simple and short increases the likelihood that accurate responses will be given. Some questions that are complicated by loaded words and double negatives are somehow hard for a participant to answer. A researcher should not ask more than one question as a participant will only be able to answer one at a time. Still, it is important to avoid questions that may require interpretation of some terms. Instead, giving a range from which a participant can choose will assist in clarify the choices. Ranges may also assist a participant feel motivated in answering the questions. Finally, it is essential that to consider the biases that may be relayed in the wording of the questions. Leading questions are often the main problem with most questionnaires. Questions that do invite a desirable response produce a set of responses that is biased. In addition, assuming that a respondent is in a position to remember details accurately is unrealistic and may give inaccurate responses. It is essential to understand the types of questions that may be included in the questionnaire as they do need different levels of interpretation by a respondent. This impacts the level of concentration that is needed by a participant and therefore, eases the completion of the questionnaires. Basically, there are four types of questions; open-ended questions, attitudinal and opinion questions, complex factual and simple factual questions. Each of these different types of questions suits different responses. (Ross, 2005). A questionnaire was used in a survey conducted on business continuity management. The survey was conducted for financial institutions with shares in the transaction value on Bank of Japan from October to November 2010. The survey questions were formulated with the reference to the main case studies of initiatives at the financial institutions (Bank of Japan, 2011). The BOJ does expect financial institutions to use the survey findings as they undergo the review of their business continuity management and improve their effectiveness. The survey was also meant to deepen discussions of business continuity management and improve the robustness of the financial status of financial institution in Japan. The findings obtained included half of the correspondents pointed out inadequacy for business continuity management while those responding to effectiveness are assured in business continuity management is seen to have declined from the previous one (Williams, 2003). In this research, the design questionnaire was set in a way the respondent could understand. The two important concepts; validity and reliability were considered. As a result, the responses given were accurate and could, therefore, be used to analyze the financial status of the Bank of Job. In addition, the findings were used to assist the financial institutions in improving their continuity management. Indeed, there was a consistent on the way the questions were answered. The questionnaire length and structure was in the accepted state. As a result, respondents did not, therefore, take long to fill the questionnaire. As such, accurate information was given. In addition, there was no repetition of question thus, enabling the respondent to avoid answering the same question which would have resulted to biases. The sequences of the questions were according to the accepted standard. The questions were grouped together assisting the participant contextualize the successive questions. The order of the questions was presented in a way that the respondents would not be biased. In question wording, the frame of reference was clear. Examples were given in order to overcome the problem brought about by misunderstanding of some questions. A scenario was also given as the starting of every section to contextualize the questions. However, some questions were not short6. This reduced the accuracy of the responses. Despite this, the questions were simple thus easily understood. Leading questions were avoided in this research. Therefore, it reduced problems that are associated with leading questions. Questionnaires were used for acquiring information on public view of risk mitigation and natural hazards (Bird, 2009). The research used a good questionnaire design. As such, data was generated which was conducive to the main goals of the research. Validity and reliability were observed. The questionnaire had enough questions that allowed the researcher to cover the main research theme. Each question had a clear role and purpose. This resulted to accurate responses which were then used in predicting the risks that were likely to occur during natural hazards. In addition, the research did not assume that the respondents would remember everything that had occurred earlier on. The question wordings were sequenced in a logical way. They were precise and ambiguous. This allows a smooth transition from one topic to another. It also ensured that the respondents understood the main purpose of the research and answered the answers careful until the end. The research applied groupings relate questions under a heading in order to describe the section’s theme. The use of closed questionnaire was an excellent choice as it easily coded. In addition, it gave room for analysis, quantification and comparison. It is then obvious that the questionnaires were fully completed (Seymour, 2001). Questionnaires were used in qualitative interview as way of integrating quantitative and qualitative health service research (Adamson, 2012). The paper examined the application of standardized self-completion questions and questionnaires. This was done during an in-depth interview. In this research, the questions were sequenced in a logical way. The sentences were simple and short. However, a few problems did rose concerning the question wording. The second question was inadequately asked. Nevertheless, this was overcome by the interviewer. Definition of terms was given in order to help the respondents in answering the questions accurately. Essentially, the structure and length of the questionnaire motivated the respondents as it was not long (Sixsmith & Murray, 2001). Questionnaires were used in midwifery research. The paper was a conducting a research to establish the strength of survey research. In this research, questionnaire design was well done. This made it easy for the participant to understand, interpret and therefore, complete it. The questionnaire was structured according and the length was appropriate. As a result, the questions were completed accurately. However, some questions were long affecting the accuracy of the questions given. This is because the participant may have misinterpreted the complex questions. Such questions did not motivate the respondents in filling in some questions. The researcher did the group the questions and gave them a brief heading. This would assist the respondent in answering the questions that followed. The questions were kept simple and precise and it increased the likelihood of accurate responses. It was noted that some questions were complicated by use of double negatives. In fact direct questions would have reduced such complications (Hemming¸2008). Essentially, data collection is a basic method in research. For a researcher to receive accurate and excellent findings there is need to have effective methods of collecting data. Indeed, all the data collection methods have weaknesses and strengths and there is a need for a researcher to try and maximize the strength while minimizing the weaknesses. Questionnaires are fundamental and popular tool for acquiring information. As seen in other data collection method, the questionnaires have strengths and weakness. Therefore, a research applying this method of data collection should concentrate on strengthening the advantages of this method. Key issues that are associated with questionnaire as a tool for data collection include: questionnaire design, question wording and questionnaire structure and length. Any researcher should apply the correct question design in order to obtain accurate responses. In addition, the wording should motivate a respondent while the right structure and length should be used in order to get accurate responses. Various research studies have been analyzed using these issues. Indeed, most of these research studies have used based their data collection on these issues. References Adamson, J. (2012). Questerviews. Journey of Health Services Resaerch & Policy , 17-23. Bird, K. (2009). The use of questionnaires for acquiring information of public perception of natural hard and risk mitigation. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences , 1307-1325. Hemming¸ P. (2008). Mixing qualitative research methods in children’s geographies, Area, 152-162 Japan, B. o. (2011). Questionnaire survey on business continuity management. BOJ Reports & Research Papers , 1-14. King, D. (2002). Post disaster surveys: experience and methodology. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 39-47. Leeuw, E. d. (2005). To mix or not to mix? Data collectionmodes in surveys. Journal of Official Statistics , 21 (2), 1-23. Ross, K. (2005). Sample design for educationl survey reseaerch. 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