Chapter 5: Data Collection Instruments: Questionnaire

Lesson Plan
1. Indicators development
2. Data collection instruments
3. Framing of Questionnaire:
• Contents
• Phrasing
• Sequencing
• Layout
• Pre-testing and revising of questions.
 1. Indicators development

Indicators development: The first stage of

questionnaire design is the instrument development
based on study objectives. One or more questions can
be developed from one indicator. For example: for
electricity using enterprise, the indicators may be:
• enterprise characteristics (yr of establishment, size,
assets, location, year of operation, type of activity, etc)
• profile of owner/manager
• energy sources, usage, expenditure,
• duration and quality of supply, etc
• labor utilization
• cost, revenue and profit.
 2. Data collection instruments

Two types of data: secondary and primary. For each type we

require data collection instrument. These are: questionnaire,
checklist, guidelines and discussion points/issues. Most
popular and widely used type is questionnaire consisting of a
set of questions designed to generate necessary data for
accomplishing research objectives.
Suitability of secondary data: relevance, reliability, adequacy,
and up-to-date.
Questionnaire can be used in exploratory as well as
descriptive research. But there are differences in design and
administration of questionnaire. Questions are of close
ended (structured) and open ended (unstructured).
Exploratory research is conducted in informal & flexible way,
where most of the questions are open-ended..
 3. Framing of Questionnaire: A-Contents
Study objectives will determine the type of
information to be collected.
Communication medium of data collection, such as
personal (face to face) interview, telephone interview,
mail (postal) interview, video conference, etc will
dictate the nature of questions to be asked to
respondents.
Type of statistical analysis to be done.
Broadly two conditions for questionnaires:
• Questionnaire must be relevant
• Questionnaire: simple, understandable, unbiased,
unambiguous, non-irritating, etc. Objective is accuracy.
 B. Phrasing of questions

Many ways to phrase questions.

Open ended (structured) and close ended questions.
Merits: Open ended questions are most beneficial for
exploratory research. Here respondents are free to
provide answers whatever is in their thinking.
Demerits: The cost of open ended questions:
collection, editing, coding and analyzing is quite high
per unit instrument. Interviewer bias may influence
the response. More skilled interviewer is needed; time
of interview is relatively more. Not desirable in mail
and telephonic interviews.
 C: Art of asking of questions
Things to remember while designing questionnaire:
• avoid complexity: use simple conversational
language;
• avoid leading (suggests or implies certain answer)
and loaded questions (suggests socially desirable or
emotional answers);
• avoid ambiguity;
• avoid double barreled questions;
• avoid making assumptions;
• avoid burdensome questions
• avoid sensitive and irritating questions
 D. Sequence
Question sequence may serve several purposes: if the
opening questions are interesting, simple and easy to
respond, respondents’ cooperation and involvement
can be maintained. Observations:
• Generally order bias is avoided (Questions appearing
in the first get more attention)
• Funnel technique can be used: General questions are
asked before specific questions in order to obtain
unbiased responses;
• Filter question: A question that screens out
respondents not qualified to answer the next question.
 
 6.Layout
The layout and the physical attractiveness of the
questionnaire is important particularly for self
administered questionnaire. The layout should be
neat, attractive and easy to follow instructions.
For mail questionnaire: Questionnaire should not
be overcrowded, structured questionnaire should
be included as far as possible, enough space
should be provided to ensure decent margin
 D. Pretesting
Pre-test is the field test of draft data collection
instruments before they are finally administered
in the field. It helps determine if the
respondents face any difficulty in understanding
the instrument or if there is any biased
questions. Objectives of pretest:
• difficulty in understanding and responding
• detecting biased questions
 synchronization
• rightness of skip pattern
• approximate time to complete the interview