A: Hello, John. Come in and sit down.

You're here to discuss your research

project, are you?
B: Yes. I've more or less decided what to do, but I'd like your opinion.
A: Fine. You've chosen a topic?
B: Yes, I want to look at how people use public services in their local area.
Things like parks and swimming pools.
A: Right. Well, the kind of information you'll get is very useful for town
planning, of course. Do you have a special interest in public services?
B: Not really. It's just that I found a report in the college library about an
investigation that was done ten years ago, and I Thought it would be interesting
to do a parallel one.(21)
A: 10 years is a relatively short space of time. What do you expect to find?Do
you think things will be more or less the same as before?
B: I think there will be some differences. For example, I think the number of
people going to the library will have decreased. And I'd guess that older people
are using the sports center more often than they used to.(= changing the
habitants)(22)
A: Fine.So those are your hypotheses.Now, what sort of data are you going to
use?
B: I was thinking of using official records from the management or the local
council and analyzing them. They should be easy to obtain. I don't think that
sort of information would be confidential(=enough).(23)
A: Yes, you're probably right.There might not be as much information as you'd
like, but it would certainly be the easiest kind of data to work with. But have
you considered using a questionnaire as well?
B: It's okay to get data from more than one source?
A: Absolutely.It's a bonus. You've already done the module on questionnaire
design, haven't you? And it'll be good to get experience, because next year
you'll have to do something similar for your final dissertation on a bigger scale.
(24)
B: Okay.
A: And what are the variables you'll be looking at?Are you going to look at
people's level of education?Whether they have a degree, for example?
B: I hadn't planned to.Do you think I should?
A: Well, you might see some interesting patterns.
B: Okay.(25)And that'll tie in nicely with my plans to analyze the kind of work
people do.
A: What about the size of your sample? Have you got any thoughts on the
number of questionnaires you might send out?
B: The previous study surveyed 120 people. I don't think I can really analyze
more than 50, working by myself, so I should probably distribute about 80
questionnaires altogether to allow for wastage.Do you think that's enough?
A: Definitely. I know that your project guidelines recommend a minimum of
100, but that's an ideal number(26).And you're working by yourself. And
anyway, this assignment is mainly about giving you practice in research
methods.
B: Right.
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A: …..and think of ways you can encourage people to actually complete the
questionnaire. For example, to make sure that your questions make sense, you
should try them out beforehand.
B: Okay, that's no problem.My friends will help(27E).
A: Good.Sometimes you get unpredicted responses and you have to rephrase a
question.
B: And I know that you usually get a better return if you deliver questionnaires
in person,but there will be too many. But I could enclose a stamped envelope
for the return post.(28D) It's a bit expensive, but I think it would be worth it.
A: Yes.Good. Some people say that another way of increasing returns is to
make the questionnaires anonymous. But usually people put their names on
anyway, so I don't think that would make much difference.
B: Okay.And can you give me a bit more advice about the questionnaire?
Would it be a good idea to have a short paragraph at the top explaining what I'm
doing and why?
A: Definitely(29C). And don't forget you'll need to get a bit of information
about your subjects, what age group they're in and perhaps how long they've
lived in the area(30B). So you'll need questions for that
B: Yes, I suppose that will mean it takes a bit longer to complete. But should I
give them my phone number in case there's anything they're not sure about?
A: I wouldn't if I were you.No.
B: Okay.And do I have to use open ended questions as well as closed questions?
I know the books say it's better to have a mixture.
A: Well, it depends.In this case, I'd stick to close questions. The results will be
much more manageable like that.
B: If I draft some questions tomorrow, would it be okay to bring them?