Research

Instrument
Prepared by: Mayflor S. Barile
RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
These are the fact finding
strategies.
They are the tools for data
collection
They include Questionnaire,
Interview, and Observation.
 Characteristics of a Good
Research Instrument
 1.The Instrument must be valid and
reliable
 2.It must be based upon the Conceptual
framework.
 3.It must gather data suitable for and
relevant to the research topic.
 4.It must gather data would test the
hypotheses or answer the questions under
investigation
 Characteristics of a Good
Research Instrument
 5. It should be free from all kinds of bias.
 6.It must contain clear and definite
directions to accomplish it.
 7.
It must be accompanied by a good
cover letter.
 8.It must be accompanied, if possible, by
a letter of recommendation from a
sponsor.
Example of
Research
Instrument
1. Interviews
 It is an interaction in which oral questions are
posed by the interviewer to elicit oral response
from the interviewee.
 a. Structured Interviews
The Structured Interviews are formal because,
sets of questions known as interview questionnaire
are posed to each interviewee visited and the
responses are recorded on a standardized schedule.
 b. Unstructured Interview
The Unstructured Interview is the less formal type in which
although sets of questions may be used, the interviewer freely
modifies the sequence of questions, changes the wording and
sometimes explains them or adds to them during the interaction.
 c. Non-Directive Interview
The Non-Directive Interview or the unguided gives excessive
freedom for the respondent to express his or her ideas subjectively
and spontaneously as she chooses or is able to.
 d. Focus Interview
Focus Interview as the name suggests, focuses on the
respondent’s subjective responses and experience on the subject
matter to elicit more information.
 2. Observation.
 is one of the very important methods for obtaining
comprehensive data in qualitative research especially when a
composite of both oral and visual data become vital to the
research.
 a. Participant Observer:
In this type of observation the researcher lives as a
member of the subjects of the study while observing and
keeping notes of the attributes of the subject that is being
researched so that he can directly experience, the phenomenon
being studied.
b. Non-Participant Observer:
In this approach the researcher does not
live as a member of the subjects of the
study. The researcher watches the subjects
of his or her study, with their knowledge of
his status as a researcher, but without
taking an active part in the situation under
study.
3. Questionnaire
 This is a data collection instrument mostly used in normative
surveys. This is a systematically prepared form or document
with a set of questions deliberately designed to elicit responses
from respondents or research informants for the purpose of
collecting data or information.
 • It is a form of inquiry document, which contains a
systematically compiled and well organized series of questions
intended to elicit the information which will provide insight into
the nature of the problem under study.
 • It is a form that contains a set of questions on a topic or group
of topics designed to be answered by the respondent.
 Advantages
 Easy to construct
 Distribution is easy and
inexpensive
 Responses are easy to tabulate
 Respondent’s replies are free
 Confidential information may be
given freely
 Respondents can fill out the
questionnaire at will.
 Respondents can give more
accurate replies.
Disadvantages
 Cannot be used to illiterate
person
 Respondents may not return the
filled up copies of the
questionnaire.
 Respondents give a wrong
information.
 Respondents may leave some or
many questions un-answered.
 Number of choices may be so
limited that the respondents may
be forced to select responses that
are not his actual choice.
Steps in Preparing a Questionnaire
 1. Doing library search.
 2. Talking to knowledgeable people.
 3. Mastering the guidelines.
 4. Writing the questionnaire.
 5. Editing the questionnaire.
 6. Rewriting the Questionnaire.
 7. Pretesting the questionnaire
 TYPES OF
QUESTIONS
ASKED IN SURVEY
QUESTIONNAIRES
A. ACCORDING TO FORM
 1. THE FREE-ANSWER TYPE – also called the open form, open-
ended, subjective, unrestricted, essay, and unguided response type.
 2. THE GUIDED RESPONSE TYPE – This is also called the closed form
or restricted type.
a. Recall Type – the replies are recalled.
b. Recognition Type – the possible responses are given and the
respondents selects his answer.
1. Dichotomous- There are only two questions and one is
selected
2. Multiple Choice – Only one answer is chosen from those given
as options.
3. Multiple responses – Two or more options may be chosen
B. ACCORDING TO THE KIND OF DATA ASKED
FOR
 1.DESCRIPTIVE (VERBAL) DATA
 2. QUANTIFIED (NUMERICAL) DATA
 3. INTENSITY OF FEELING, EMOTION
OR ATTITUDE
 4. DEGREE OF JUDGMENT
 5. UNDERSTANDING
 6. REASONING
GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING OF
QUESTIONS FOR A QUESTIONNAIRE
 1. Make all directions clear
 2. Use correct grammar
 3. Make all questions unequivocal
 4. Avoid asking biased questions.
 5. Objectify the responses.
 6. Relate all questions to the topic under
study.
7. Create categories or classes for
approximate answer.
8. Word carefully or avoid questions that
deal with confidential or embarrassing
information.
9. Explain and illustrate difficult
questions
10. State all questions affirmatively
11. Make the respondents anonymous.