Primary Quantitative - Questionnaires Flashcards
What is social desirability?
Occurs when respondents give answers they think the research will like
What can social desirability reduce?
Can reduce the validity of the data
What are the advantages of questionnaires when a researcher isn’t present?
Usually self-completion where the respondent answers in their own time and returns them to the researcher
Feels anonymous
Give more valid answers
What are the disadvantages of questionnaires when a researcher isn’t present?
Low response rate - low representation - less likely to complete
Right person may not complete it - not valid data
Respondents may not understand questions
What are the advantages of questionnaires?
Inexpensive
Not time consuming
No specialist skills needed
Wide geographical area - representative
Easy to quantify and analyse data
Few ethical issues
What are the disadvantages of questionnaires?
Social desirability
Response rate may be low
Researcher not present
People may lie - not valid
Inflexible - questions are standardised
Can only be completed by those who can read
Not good for sensitive topics
Intepretivists - imposition problem, researcher chooses questions and possible answers so they impose their meanings on the respondent
How can the response rate of questionnaires be improved?
Self addressed, pre paid envelope
Entry into a prize draw
Online questionnaire
