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Questionnaires and Opinionnaires

 Manoj Chhaya

Testing the hypothesis is the central part of any research.  Collecting the data and interpreting them analytically can test the hypothesis.  Thus, after selecting and defining the problem and formulating hypotheses, the method(s) of data collection is the most important part of a research.  Selecting an appropriate method is part of the early stage of planning.  The Research question and the problem govern the selection of the method.  There are various methods developed to acquire the right kind of data.  Each of the methods has particular importance for certain types of research.  In other words, some of the data-gathering methods are specific to certain kind of research.  The most appropriate method should be used in a research.  Sometimes, the methods are used even in combination.  So, a researcher should never get preoccupied with a single method of gathering the data.  If he is preoccupied with a single method, he is likely to neglect the merits of the other methods.  Commonly used data-gathering methods are observation, psychological test and inventories, interviews, questionnaires and opinionnaires, audits, quantification, direct questioning, content analysis, warranty cards and schedules. These methods can be further divided into direct methods and indirect methods. The observatory methods are indirect ones while the methods like interview and inquiry forms are the examples of the direct methods.

Inquiry Forms
Questionnaires and opininonnaires, also known collectively as Inquiry Forms, make the direct communication with the respondent possible.  They are a popular method adopted by governments, public institutions as well as the individual researchers.  Inquiry forms include the data gathering instruments in the form of a number of question statements set in a particular format.  Opinionnaires are generally used in qualitative research and count for the opinions rather than the bare facts.  Questionnaires, on the other hand, are devised to elicit the factual information and are useful in the quantitative research.  However, both the types are also used interchangeably.

The Closed and the Open Form
The nature of the question statements vary according to the subject and the purpose of the research but structurally they can be broadly divided in two categories: Closed (Structured) questions and Open (unstructured) questions.  A form containing closed question statements is known as “Closed Form”.  The closed forms are commonly referred to as multiple-choice questions.  Another term that is used for the closed form is “restricted questionnaires”.  This type of forms calls for short, check-mark-type and yes/no-type answers.  The choices for the answers are given to the respondents to choose from.  The respondents are expected to choose one or more choices as their answer.  Sometimes they are also asked to prioritize their choices by ranking them.  However, most of the closed forms have some space for the unanticipated replies, as in the open forms.  Consider some of the examples given here :

1.  Do you find the following activities helpful in improving your English ?
Singing      YES / NO 
Role Playing     YES / NO 
Drama      YES / NO 
Discussions     YES / NO 
Reading Widely     YES / NO 
Learning Grammar    YES / NO 
Lectures by Teachers    YES / NO

2. Rank These groupings for activities in a language development exercise. (1= most important, 4=least important)

  Working Individually                                                      
  Working in Pairs
  Working in groups
  Whole class with a teacher directing

3.  I have been learning English for  (check-mark your choice)
    Six Months
    1–2 Years 
    2 Years
    2-5 Years
    5-10 Years
    More than 10 years

4.  Why are you learning English?
  For the better prospects in business/job
  For further studies
  Planning to go abroad
  For  better communication
  Others __________________________   
(Please Specify)

Unlike the closed forms, the open forms do not have any pre-decide choices.  The question statements in an open form count for the “free-response” from the respondents.  They provide a greater depth into the attitudes and beliefs of the respondents.  They are more useful in the interpretative research since the dormant elements in the respondents can only be brought out by free descriptive responses provided by them.    The wide range of responses possible through the open forms provides a better scope for reliability.  The open form of the 4th question above would be:

Why are you learning English ?