Page 5 - lessonnotes_Methods of Enquiry in Psychology

 The questionnaire is the most common, simple, versatile, and low-cost self-report
method of collecting in formation.
 It consists of a predetermined set of questions.
 The respondent has to read the questions and mark the answers on paper rather than
respond verbally to the interviewer.
 They are highly structured interviews.
 Questionnaires can be distributed to a group of persons at a time who write down
their answers to the questions and return to the researcher or can be sent through
mail.

 Generally, two types of questions are used in the questionnaire:
~ open-ended questions.
~ closed-ended questions.

With open-ended questions, the respondent is free
to write whatever answer s/he considers appropriate.

In closed-ended type, the questions and their probable
answers are given and the respondent is required to
select the correct answer. Ex. The questionnaires which
requires responses like: Yes/No, using rating scale,
true/false, multiple choice.

 The questionnaire is used for collecting background and demographic information,
information about past behaviour, attitudes and opinions, knowledge about a
particular topic, and expectations and aspirations of the persons.
 LIMITATIONS
Sometimes a survey is conducted by sending the questionnaire by mail. The main
problem of a mailed questionnaire is poor response from the respondents.

TELEPHONE SURVEY

 Surveys are also conducted through telephone (over calls or through SMS)
 The telephone survey helps in reducing time.