What is Questionnaire? Types, Components, Merits, Demerits

What is Questionnaire?

Questionnaire is a list of questions or statements pertaining to an issue or program. It is used for studying the opinions of people. It is commonly used in opinion polls. People are asked to express their responses to the listed or reactions to the listed statements.

Specifically, the objectives of a questionnaire are as follows:

• It must translate the information needed into a set of specific questions that the respondents can and will answer.
  
  
• The questions should measure what they are supposed to measure.
  
  
• It must stimulate the respondents to participate in the data collection process. The respondents should be adequately motivated by the virtual construct of the questionnaire.
  
  
• It should not carry ambiguous statements that confuses the respondents.

Most of the research studies carried out for solving business problems require the researcher to depend on primary data. The researcher should collect data through questionnaires/ interview schedules and process the same so as to provide solution to the identified problem.

A questionnaire is a formalised framework consisting of a set of questions and scales designed to generate primary raw data. It is apreformulated written set of questions to which the respondents record their answers. The answers aremostly chosen by a respondent from within the closely defined alternatives.

Types of Questionnaire

The questionnaire may be of following types:

• Structured Questionnaire: Structured Questionnaires are those in which a question is presented to the respondents with fixed response categories.
  
  
• Unstructured questionnaire: Here every question is not necessarily presented to therespondent in the same wording and does not have fixed responses. Respondents are free toanswer the question the way they like.
  
  
• Mixed Questionnaire: This is a questionnaire which is neither completely structured nor un-structured. It consists of both the types of questions.

Components of a Questionnaire

A questionnaire consists typically of five sections. They are:

• Identification data
• Request for cooperation
• Instruction
• Information sought
• Classification of data

Merits of Questionnaire Method

This method is an indirect method of data collection. It has certain advantages as compared to other methods.

• Economical: In comparison to other methods of data collection (observation methods, casestudy, interview etc.) the mailed questionnaire method is the cheapest and quickest method.The cost in this method is only that of getting the questionnaire prepared and the postageexpense. There is no need to visit the respondents personally or continue the study over a longperiod.
  
  
• Less skill of administration: The questionnaire method requires less skill to administer thanan interview, observation or case study method of data collection.
  
  
• Research in wide area: If the informants or the respondents are scattered in large geographicalareas, the Questionnaire method is the only means of research. The other methods of datacollection such as schedule, interview or observation method do not prove to be successful.Even after spending large amount of money, it may not be possible to collect the informationquickly but through questionnaire method, large areas can be covered. Some times certainagencies also co-operate in the task of dispatches or sending of the questionnaire to theinformants.
  
  
• Time Saving: Besides saving money, questionnaire method saves time. Simultaneously hundredsof persons are approached through it whereas if they are to be interviewed it may take a longtime.
  
  
• More reliable in special cases: This is a method of collecting data in an objective manner through standardized impersonal questions. The respondents give free, frank and reliable information. Moreover the informants or respondents are free to give information as and whenthey want. Because of this freedom, the information that is provided is more dependable and reliable.
  
  
• Free from external influence: In questionnaire method, informants or respondents are free from external influences, as researcher is not present. They provide reliable, valid and meaningful information based on his knowledge, views and attitudes.
  
  
• Suitable for special type of responses: The information about certain problems can be bestobtained through this method. For example, the research about marital relations, dreams etc.can easily be obtained by keeping the name of respondents anonymous.
  
  
• Less errors: Chances of errors are very low, because the supply of information is given by therespondent himself.
  
  
• Originality: The informants are directly involved in the supply of information, so the method is more original.
  
  
• Uniformity: The impersonal nature of questionnaires ensure uniformity from one measurement situation to another.
  
  
• Collection of information relevant to the objective: Through this method, the questionnairesare framed according to the objective, hence data collection is also accordingly to that objective.

Demerits of Questionnaire Method

The method has the following disadvantages/limitations:

• Lack of interest: Lack of interest on the part of respondents is very common. The respondents get disinterested due to large number of questions.
  
  
• Incomplete response: Some respondents give answers which are so brief that the full meaning is incomprehensible.
  
  
• Useless in-depth research problems: If a problem requires deep and long study, it cannot be studied through this method.
  
  
• Inelastic: This method is very rigid since no alteration may be introduced.Prejudices and biases of the researcher influences the questions: Since researcher framesthe questions his personal views, prejudices and biases influence the questions instead ofbecoming objective and impersonal, he becomes biased and prejudiced.
  
  
• Poor response and lack of reality: All the informants do not give answers or do not fill thequestionnaire. There is a large percentage of those who do not send back the questionnaire.This makes the study unreliable.
  
  
• The incompleteness of the form of questionnaire: Sometimes the questionnaire is itselfincomplete and some of the important aspects about which the information is required are notgiven, hence data collected is neither reliable nor helpful for the study.
  
  
• Lack of personal contact: There is no provision in this method for coming face to face with the respondent. This may result in manipulation of replies by the respondents.