Question-1 “Questionnaire is a set of stimuli to which literal people are exposed

in order to observe their verbal behavior under these stimuli” Discuss the
statement focusing method of using questionnaire as a tool for research .
Answer-Questionnaires and schedules are a lot of utilized in social occasion an assortment of
information.
They have been utilized for the collection of individual inclinations, social beliefs, attitudes,
opinions, behavior patterns, group practices, habits and other kind of information.
The expanding utilization of schedules and questionnaires is likely because of expanded
accentuation by social researchers on quantitative measurement of consistently gathered
accumulated data.
A questionnaire is a tool for data collection. It consists of a number of questions printed or
typed in definite order on form or set of forms. It is directed to a respondent either personally
or through mail. The respondent answers the questions all alone without being helped.

Questionnaire are now widely used for gathering information/ collecting data, especially when
data are to be gathered from countless individuals who are dissipated over a wide area. They
are used both as independent and separate method of collecting data. They are also used as an
additional device to check data gathered through observation and personal interview.

Definition of Questionnaire:
1. “A questionnaire is a means of gathering information by having the respondents fill in
answers to printed questions” —Wallace and Wallace.

2. “Fundamentally, the questionnaire is a set of stimuli to which literate people are exposed in
order to observe their verbal behavior under these stimuli —Lundberg.

3. Good and Hatte define questionnaire as a device for securing answers to questions using a
form which the respondent fills in himself

4. Questionnaire studies are systematic ways of asking questions under scientific controls. A
questionnaire is a device in which the respondents fill in their responses in specified manner
personally.
Questionnaire, Schedule and the Interview Guide:

The questionnaire is intended to gather information from huge, various and generally dissipated
gatherings of individuals. The questionnaire is commonly sent through the mail to the witnesses
to be replied as indicated in a covering letter and minus any additional help from the sender. The
schedule, then again, is commonly rounded out by the researcher who can decipher questions
when important.

Questionnaire:

The word “Questionnaire” refers to a device for securing answers to questions by using a form
which the respondent fills in himself.

Ways of Obtaining Response through the Questionnaire Method:

There are two different ways through which the responses of the sources could be gathered.
Responses of the sources could be gathered through questionnaire method (I) via mailing the
questionnaires to the selected people under examination, or (ii) by asking the question to them
directly in an interview. Mailed questionnaire have some bit of advantage over interview,
including setting aside cash and time, comfort to the respondents who can answer freely.

There is greater assurance for them that the respondents will stay unknown; and that
addresses won't be placed in different precarious manners; and that the respondents are not
one-sided by the questioner. Further there is more noteworthy possibility for the respondents
to discover time to counsel different sources prior to reacting. There is more prominent simple
entry to the individuals who are generally isolated geologically.

Types of Questionnaire:
Questionnaires can be classified into two broad types:

(i) Structured Questionnaires, and

(ii) Unstructured Questionnaires.

i. Structured Questionnaires:

Structured Questionnaires are those which present positive, concrete and prepared questions.
It implies the questions are set up ahead of time and not developed on the spot during the
questioning period . Additional questions might be utilized just when need or insufficient
answers by sources. These structured questionnaire might be of two wide sorts:

(a) Closed-Form or Poll Type or Selective Type Questionnaire, and

(b) Open-End or Inventive Type Questionnaire.

(a) Closed-Form Questionnaire. In closed- form Questionnaire, various elective answers are
given toward the finish of each question and the errand is, the witness needs to pick one of
them. This is likewise called "Poll Type "or "Selective Type" of questionnaire for the source
needs to choose one among the appropriate responses provided by the examiner himself. His
decision of offering his own response isn't allowed and henceforth it is a "closed type".
"Example: Where do you wish to live in? (1) City, (2) Suburb, (3) Village?

(b) Open-End Type or Inventive Type. In this sort, questions are not followed by any reedy-
made answers. The source needs to think about the appropriate response himself and he is
allowed to reply as he enjoys. The open-end reactions are free and unconstrained articulations
with respect to the source who isn't restricted in his answers to a specific inquiry presented to
him. This is additionally called "inventive type" for the respondent needs to consider or create
the response for himself.
The respondent might be approached to compose a descriptive essay and express his
perspectives, portray his connections, mentalities, demonstrate his problems, and report on
details and occasions without restriction imposed as in the type of closed questions.

Structured Questionnaires are utilized in a wide scope of ventures which may relate to
investigations of financial or social issues, estimation of popular sentiment on open issues or
occasions, investigations of regulatory arrangements, concentrates on typical cost for basic
items, purchaser consumptions, youngster government assistance, general wellbeing and
various different issues.
In the "closed-form" questions, the reactions might be effectively tabulated and statical
measures can be effortlessly applied, on the grounds that, the quantity of potential responses
to each address is fixed.

Its disadvantage is that it might frequently propose answers that may not be there in the
psyche of the witness. This may invalidate the very point of the investigation. Another
imperfection is, the witness needs to limit his responses to the focuses given in the
questionnaire itself. He can't leave it and express his actual sentiment on a specific issue.
The merit of the "open-end" type is that it gives wide opportunity to the source to offer his own
response to the inquiries. He isn't limited by rules and can be free. Its demerit is that it
represents a few issues of characterization and examination. Be that as it may, this open-end
question has been utilized effectively where the essential data to be gathered is qualitative in
nature.
(ii) Unstructured Questionnaires:

Unstructured questionnaires, frequently referred to as "interview guides", likewise focus on

exactness and contain unmistakable topic regions. Flexibility is its main advantage. It is
intended to get see—Points, opinions, attitudes, and to show connections and interconnections
between information which may get away from notice under more mechanical sorts of cross
examination.

The object is to give the respondent greatest occasion to uncover how he had shown up at or
built up his universe of involvement. Free reactions of the respondents are requested and no
impediments are forced and no foreordained reactions are given.

This type of questionnaire is utilized for serious examinations, however by and large for a set
number of chosen cases. It has been applied to investigations of family bunch cohesiveness, to
investigations of individual encounters, convictions and perspectives. The central disservice of
unstructured surveys comes from the peril that non—added substance and non—practically
identical information will be amassed when no organizing is forced.

Formation or Construction of a Questionnaire:

The effectiveness of questionnaire as a tool of obtaining information also depends on the con-
struction or formation of a questionnaire. It is not an easy task to prepare a good questionnaire.
Hence attention must be paid to the following aspects in preparing a questionnaire.

1. Physical Format:
The physical format of a good questionnaire must be such that it must evoke spontaneous
interest from respondents.

2. Question Content:
Questions must be specific and unambiguous and seek responses on a definite topic.

3. Question Wording:
The wording of the questions and the language used must be simple, direct and unambiguous.
Questions and key words carrying dual meaning must be avoided.

4. Question Sequence:
Questions in a questionnaire must be ordered in a definite sequence.

In addition to these, the following suggestions may also be considered in preparing and using
the questionnaire.

Main points to be noted in Preparing and Using the Questionnaire:

1. Any questionnaire must be limited in its length and scope. In interviews especially the ques-
tionnaire should not require more than 30 minutes to be completed.

2. When the questioner and the interviewee possess a more detailed experience with the
subject of the inquiry, many questions become unnecessary and can be avoided.

3. The questioner should try to know as much as possible about his subject-matter before he
begins to formulate questions.

4. Sufficient care should be taken to include all the important questions on the subject. Each
and every item of the questionnaire must be relevant and related with central problem.

5. There must be logical connection between the questions and they can be thought of as
moving from the inside to outward.

6. Care must be taken to avoid ambiguous, too personal and embarrassing questions.

7. Care must be taken to ask questions which include all the possible alternatives on a particular
issue at study.

8. Wordings of the questionnaire should b simple, and unambiguous.

9. Liker’s Scale [or Five Point Scale] can be made use of when “yes” or “no” answer
cannot be given to a question. This includes five points or responses to a question
among which one can be accepted by the respondent:

(i) I strongly approve.

(ii) I approve.

(iii) I am undecided.

(iv) I disapprove.

(v) I strongly disapprove.

10. Further, there must be a unity in the construction of a questionnaire or schedule.

The questions should be so designed to awaken the interest of the respondent and
must proceed from simplicity to complexity. Embarrassing questions should be avoided
and the personal information should not be sought. The questions should proceed from
one frame of reference to another instead of jumping back and forth.