Characteristics and types of Questionnaires

1. Characteristics of Questionnaires
Questionnaires can be classified as both, quantitative and qualitative method
depending on the nature of questions.
- Answers obtained through closed-ended questions with multiple choice
answer options are analyzed using quantitative methods and they may
involve pie-charts, bar-charts and percentages.
- Answers obtained to open-ended questionnaire questions are analyzed using
qualitative methods and they involve discussions and critical analyses
without use of numbers and calculations.
Questions need be formulated in an unambiguous (simple) and straightforward
manner and they should be presented in a logical order.
Advantages and Disadvantages of questionnaires:
- Advantages: Advantages of questionnaires include increased speed of data
collection, low or no cost requirements, and higher levels of objectivity
compared to many alternative methods of primary data collection.
- Disadvantages: However, questionnaires have certain disadvantages such as
selection of random answer choices by respondents without properly reading
the question. Moreover, there is usually no possibility for respondents to
express their additional thoughts about the matter due to the absence of a
relevant question.

2. Types of questionnaires:
2.1. Computer questionnaire. Respondents are asked to answer the questionnaire
which is sent by mail. The advantages of the computer questionnaires include their
inexpensive price, time-efficiency, and respondents do not feel pressured, therefore
can answer when they have time, giving more accurate answers. However, the
main shortcoming of the mail questionnaires is that sometimes respondents do not
bother answering them and they can just ignore the questionnaire.
2.2. Telephone questionnaire. Researcher may choose to call potential
respondents with the aim of getting them to answer the questionnaire. The
advantage of the telephone questionnaire is that, it can be completed during the
short amount of time. The main disadvantage of the phone questionnaire is that it is
expensive most of the time. Moreover, most people do not feel comfortable to
answer many questions asked through the phone and it is difficult to get sample
group to answer questionnaire over the phone.
 2.3. In-house survey. This type of questionnaire involves the researcher visiting
respondents in their houses or workplaces. The advantage of in-house survey is
that more focus towards the questions can be gained from respondents. However,
in-house surveys also have a range of disadvantages which include being time
consuming, more expensive and respondents may not wish to have the researcher
in their houses or workplaces for various reasons.
 2.4. Mail Questionnaire. This sort of questionnaires involve the researcher to
send the questionnaire list to respondents through post, often attaching pre-paid
envelope. Mail questionnaires have an advantage of providing more accurate
answer, because respondents can answer the questionnaire in their spare time. The
disadvantages associated with mail questionnaires include them being expensive,
time consuming and sometimes they end up in the bin put by respondents.
3. Types of questions in questionnaires
3.1. Close-end question (Dichotomous Questions).
Closed-ended question: Questions are those which can be answered by a simple
"yes" or "no". It is the easiest form of questionnaire for the respondent in terms of
responding it.
Examples of closed-ended questions are:
- Are you feeling better today?
- Have you already completed your homework?
- Is math your favorite subject?
- Is there a Mass being held at noon?

Closed-ended questions should not always be thought of as simple questions that

anyone can quickly answer merely because they require a yes or no answer.
Closed-ended questions can also be very complicated. For example, "Is 1 in binary
equal to 1 in counting numbers?" is a closed-ended question that not everyone
would be able to quickly answer.

3.2. Open-end question:

Questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.
The answers could come in the form of a list, a few sentences or something longer
such as a speech, paragraph or essay.

Examples of open-ended questions:

- What is the purpose of company?
- How will you help the company if you are hired to work for us?
 - Where are you going to find the time to work all those papers?
- Why can't I come along with you?
or
- Tell me about your relationship with your supervisor.

3.3. Multiple choice questions. Respondents are offered a set of answers they
have to choose from. The downsize of questionnaire with multiple choice
questions is that, if there are too many answers to choose from, it makes the
questionnaire, confusing and boring, and discourages the respondent to answer the
questionnaire.
Example of multi choice question:
“The city known as the "IT capital" of India is

A. Bangalore
B. Mumbai
C. Mexico
D. Hyderabad”
3.4. Scaling Questions.
Also referred to as ranking questions, they present an option for respondents
to rank the available answers to the questions on the scale of given range of values
(for example from 1 to 10).
Scaling (sometimes called grading, rating scale) is effective in social study
because it switches the conversation from being 'about' emotions to being 'about'
numbers – and this in itself can help people feel better understand. 
Example of scaling Question: Please rate your experience at the TUAF library
(please do not select more than one answer per row)
Strongly Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly
agree disagree
The English book is
easy to find
The books I needed
were available
….

3.5. Rank-order (or ordinal) scale questions:

This type of question asks your respondent to rank items or choose items in
a particular order from a set. For example, it might ask your respondents to order
five things from least to most important.
Example of rank-order scale question:

“When considering a job offer, please rank the importance of the following (Please
fill in your rank order using numbers 1 through 5 with 1 being the most important):

– Positive working environment

– Salary
– Benefits
– Vacation time
– Challenging workload”