Purpose of Questionnaire

The main purpose of a questionnaire is to extract data from the respondents. It’s a comparatively inexpensive, quick, and efficient way of collecting great deal of data even when the researcher isn’t present to gather those responses firsthand. However, it’s important to note that a questionnaire isn’t the method of analyzing the responses. The method of analyzing responses is called surveying.

Is Questionnaire just another word for “Survey”?

While the two terms seem synonymous, they aren’t quite the same. A questionnaire may be a set of questions created for the aim of gathering information; that information might not be used for a survey. However, all surveys do require questionnaires.

Why are questionnaires effective in research?

Questionnaires are popular research methods because they provide a quick, efficient and cheap means of gathering large amounts of data from sizeable sample volumes.

Types of Questionnaires in research

• Postal: Paper surveys sent through the mail.
• In-house: Conducted face-to-face at homes or workplaces.
• Telephone: Conducted via phone calls.
• Electronic: Presented via email or online platforms.

Main considerations in designing a questionnaire

Once the choice has been made to use a specific format, the subsequent questions should be considered:

• What exactly can we want to measure?
• To whom will we ask questions?
• Will the respondent willingly answer this question?
• Are the respondents mainly illiterate?
• Are ethical issues involved in this question?