Questionnaires techniques of fieldwork

Questionnaires are usually used for collecting data from the respondent through a series of questions.

               Questionnaires are not only statistical in nature but also descriptive in nature in regard to answer from the respondent. Descriptive answer is required for qualitative fieldwork.

               Based on the types of questions use, questionnaires are as follows-

                                                                                                i.         Structure Questionnaires,

                                                                                               ii.         Non-Structure Questionnaires,

                                                                                             iii.         Open Questionnaires,

                                                                                             iv.         Closed Questionnaires,

Discuss:                                                                           

i.Structure Questionnaires: Comes under quantitative research, it is includes low number of researcher & the number of respondent. There are also called closed questionnaires. 

Characteristics:

a)     They usually include answer such as – Tick Mark, Very Good-Bas etc. or in number like – 1, 0 etc.

b)    They have to be prepared well in advance.

c)     They have a defined & complete questions.

d)    Commonly used in for social & economic problem, to study about changes.

ii.Non-structure questionnaires: A version of qualitative survey. They are based around more open question. Answer is recorded through the process of interview with this questionnaires. It is difficult to organized the answer & come to certain conclusion by a researcher.

Characteristics:

a)     Usually use at the time of interview.

b)    Does not required much time.

c)     More flexible for applying many area.

d)    Personal information such as – religious relief, social custom & norms etc. collected through this type of questionnaires.

iii.Open Questionnaires: This type of question are use to allow the respondents to express their view in a free following manner.

                  By using such questions the respondent do not have to follow the criteria for answering questions.

Characteristics:

a)     An open questionnaires is likely to receive a long answer.

b)    They ask the respondent to think & reflect.

c)     They will give you opinions & feelings.

d)    They hand control of the conservation to the respondent.

iv.Closed Questionnaires: Multiple choice under this categories. The user is restricted to answer there opinion through the option that are set by surveyor.

                          One of main advantage of this type of questionnaires is that – answers are capable to be organized by the researcher & using different statistical method conclusion may used easily.

Characteristics:

a)     A closed question can be answered with either a single word or a short phrase. ( For example – ‘Yes’ or ‘No’)

b)    They are easy to answer.

c)     They are quick to answer.

d)    They give you facts.

Advantages:

                                 i.         It is less expensive.

                                ii.         It offers greater anonymity.

Disadvantage:

                                 i.         Application is limited.

                                ii.         Response rate is low.

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