11-08-2012, 11:48 AM
Questionnaire design and analysing the data using SPSS
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Questionnaire design.
For each decision you make when designing a questionnaire there is likely to be a
list of points for and against just as there is for deciding on a questionnaire as the
data gathering vehicle in the first place. Before designing the questionnaire the initial
driver for its design has to be the research question, what are you trying to find out.
After that is established you can address the issues of how best to do it.
An early decision will be to choose the method that your survey will be administered
by, i.e. how it will you inflict it on your subjects. There are typically two underlying
methods for conducting your survey; self-administered and interviewer administered.
A self-administered survey is more adaptable in some respects, it can be written e.g.
a paper questionnaire or sent by mail, email, or conducted electronically on the
internet.
Surveys administered by an interviewer can be done in person or over the phone,
with the interviewer recording results on paper or directly onto a PC.
Deciding on which is the best for you will depend upon your question and the target
population. For example, if questions are personal then self-administered surveys
can be a good choice. Self-administered surveys reduce the chance of bias sneaking
in via the interviewer but at the expense of having the interviewer available to explain
the questions.
The format of your questions will affect the answers;
Keep your questions short, less than twenty five words if possible. Keep questions
understandable make sure the subject understands the terms used and importantly
how the format of the questionnaire works (an already filled in example is often
useful for this). Don't use “double negatives,” they can be confusing
Ambiguous questions.
Check for ambiguity in your questions, make sure what you're asking is obvious.
Ambiguous questions not only yield no useful data but can frustrate the respondent
and encourage them to give up! Avoid asking two questions at once. For example,
“Are you happy with the amount and timeliness of feedback you receive from your
tutors?” Analyzing the responses to such a question would be made practically
impossible because you won’t be able to tell which part of the question the
respondent was answering.
Try it out! Run a Pilot.
When you have created the ultimate questionnaire try it out. It is very unlikely to be
right first time! Don't just pilot the survey but carry that data through to analysis to
check that your analysis plan is capable of offering the results you are aiming for.
Solicit comments from your pilot group, friends might be shy of being critical, make
sure they feel it is OK to note the shortcomings.
How long should a questionnaire be?
How long is a piece of string? - there is no definite rule but as guidance the amount
of time people will happily take in filling it in will depend on their interest or "stake" in
it. I f you want to press me for a guide then twenty Likert type questions is probably.