ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES PROGRAM

Research Instrument - assesses how well the

- A tool used to gather data on a specific
topic of interest.
Reliability ~ replicable ~ credibility
 When conducting research, you need to
prepare and implement the appropriate
instrument to collect the data you need.
TWO CRITERIA IN PREPARING AN
INSTRUMENT:
Valid Instrument
- when it directly answers or addresses
your research questions.
Reliable Instrument
- when it provides you consistent and
stable data over some time (Barrot,
2016, p.201).
construct measured in the
study is "covered."
- describes the degree that the results of
a given study can be repeated or
replicated under the same conditions.
 A study with high reliability is one that has
consistent results each time it is
conducted.
 Study with inconsistent results = low
reliability
Reliable across time
- which describes a study that
has consistent results when the
same researcher repeats it at a
different point in time.

Type of Reliability: Internal Consistency

How do you say that the survey questionnaire Reliability
you created is well-designed?
- gauges how consistent
- It all boils down to its ability to function measurements are on multiple
in ways it is expected: by yielding the items that are attempting to
answers that your report or research measure the same variable.
needs. This is where validity and
reliability come into play.  To have useful and quality research,
both reliability and validity must be
considered. Validity and reliability in
Validity ~ accuracy
research are distinct, but related
- A way to asses the quality of a research concepts.
study
- Describes the degree to which the
results measure what they are intended
to measure.

Content Validity

- describes how well a

measurement includes all
aspects of the variable being
studied.
 MOST COMMON TYPES OF
INSTRUMENTS
A. Survey
- Contains planned questions
that are used to measure
attitudes, perceptions, and
opinions.
- For collecting information from
a selected group of people
using standardized
questionnaires of interviews
- Includes responses directly
related to each specific
research question
- Can be either in the form of
interview and questionnaire.
TWO KEY CONCEPTS
Surveying
- the process of data gathering that a
researcher follows using a
questionnaire (O'Leary, 2014).
Questionnaire
- An instrument used to collect the
primary data (Cohen, 2013).
- It contains all the possible questions
that answer the problems raised in the
study.
- Respondents answer these questions by
writing or by marking the answer sheet
(Sicat, 2009).
- Modern Survey platforms: Survey
Monkey, Microsoft Forms, Google
forms
TWO CLASSIFICATIONS OF SURVEYS
Interview Based
- Researchers are involved
- Face to face interview
- Interview over phone
Self – Completed
- The respondents answer the survey
alone with out the help of the
researchers
- Hand delivered questionnaire
- Web questionnaire
Why are surveys important?
- For service improvement, with the data
can tell whether the company is doing
an excellent job or not.
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
1. Recall
- Asks for specific information
such as years of service, age,
and address.
2. Recognition
- Asks for a response to a specific
problem where options are
given, such in the case of:
multiple choice, dichotomous
(yes/no), and rating scale
format.
3. Open-ended
- Type of question elicits brief or
lengthy explanations or
impressions from the
respondents.
DESIGNING A SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Clearly state the purpose of the survey.
2. Set the clear directions on how your
respondents are supposed to answer
the survey questionnaire.
3. Formulate questions that only address
your research questions.
o Most cases, close-ended
questions are used since they
are easier to quantify, make it
 effective for a quantitative type
of study.
o Depending on the survey, you
may use open-ended questions
to allow elaboration in
responses.
4. Include questions that will identify
respondents’ demographics or
background if the study requires you to
do so.
B. Questionnaire
- Is more quantifiable.
- Lists written questions to get
the specific information.
- Usually dichotomous and use
an identification type test. In
some cases, open-ended
questions are incorporated.
PARTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Personal information section – includes
the name (optional), age, date of birth,
address, educational background, and
other personal information about the
respondent.
o Only personal information
relevant to the study should be
asked.
2. Basic questions section – to establish
the person you are asking is the right
person for the study and to establish
rapport with the interviewees
(applicable to interviews)
3. Main question section - contains
questions that are directly related to
your research.
o Greater the number of
questions = more conclusive
results
4. Open – ended question sections – asks
for brief explanation or responses to an
open – ended question.
Guidelines in Preparing a Questionnaire
1. Introduce the questionnaire through a cover
letter. The cover letter should explain the
study's purpose and relevance, the length of
time in completing the questionnaire, how the
data will be processed, your contact details, and
the expected date and time in completing the
questionnaire.
2. Keep the questionnaires as short as possible
by focusing only on the essential questions.
3. Ensure confidentiality of information.
4. Pilot the questionnaire to ensure that you
have not missed any important questions.
5. Use of follow-up reminder.
6. Give respondents sufficient time to answer
the questionnaire.
7. Make all directions and questions clear and
unequivocal; do not use words with double
meanings or complex questions.
8. Ensure that your grammar is correct.
9. Use questions that will elicit objective
responses as much as possible.
10. Make the questionnaire as brief as possible
without sacrificing content.
11. Arrange and categorize the questions
logically (e.g., based on research questions).
12. Relate all questions to your research topic
and make sure the responses drawn out are
sufficient for your analysis.
13. Concerning the previous guideline, try to
make as many questions as possible without
being redundant.
14. Avoid embarrassing, unnecessary questions.  Questionnairs are usually self –
explanatory
15. Explain and illustrate difficult questions.
DRAWBACKS OF SURVEYS
16. State all questions affirmatively.
 Can lead to dishonest and inaccurate
17. Make the respondents anonymous, if
information
necessary.
 Tend to be very limited in what they can
18. Avoid biased and leading questions. ask
 Low response rate
Testing and Revising the Survey Questionnaire

1. Clarify the purpose.

2. Formulate survey goals.
3. Choose a survey method.
4. Draft a questionnaire.
5. Verify the resources (instrument validation by
key informants for qualitative research;
instrument validation by subject matter experts
even for quantitative research).
6. Facilitate a questionnaire that is validated by
a key informant (qualitative research)
 Pilot testing
- A selected group outside your
intended respondents will
answer the survey.
- you determine if the responses
can answer the research
questions (validity) and is the
same thing right to each of the
answered survey questionnaire
(reliability).
- Will help you decide whether to
retain the survey questionnaire
or revise the parts that failed to
secure the answers needed by
the research questions.
ADVANTAGES OF SURVEYS
 They allow the researcher to collect a
large amount of information quickly
C. INTERVIEWS
- Verbal conversation between a
researcher and participant,
where an interviewer tries to
elicit helpful personal
information through
conversation, probing and
follow up questions and jotting
down a research participant’s
answers
- Is done when needed a more
in-depth information
- Are usually open-ended
STAGES OF AN INTERVIEW
1. Pre – interview stage
- Interview guide is prepared and
the respondent are identified
and contacted
2. Warm up stage
- Initial part of the interview
- Questions are asked to make
the respondents more at ease
3. Main interview stage
- The main questions are asked
(related to the research
questions)
4. Closing stage
- Questions are asked to wind
down and the respondents are
acknowledged and thanked.