SIMAD University

Data and Data CollectionQuestionnaire

Ali Yassin Sheikh

Collecting Primary Data Using Questionnaires

• Introduction • Advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires• Types of Questionnaires: self-administered and

interview-administered questionnaires• Consider issues:– Selection and justification for using questionnaires– Designing, pilot testing and administering– Enhancing response rate

• Conclusion

Introduction

• Questionnaire:– Technique of data collection in which each person

is asked to respond to the same set of questions in a predetermined order.

– It is widely used tool in survey studies.– Careful design and pilot test is required before

administering the questionnaires to the respondents.

Introduction, cont…

• Types of Questionnaires:– Self-administered: usually completed by the

respondents (e.g., internet-mediated, postal or mail or delivery and collection questionnaires).

– Interview administered• Telephone questionnaires• Structured interviews

Introduction, cont…

• Choice of questionnaires:– Is influenced by factors related to your research

questions and objectives:• Size of sample• Types of questions• Characteristics of the respondents• Response rate

– It is used either descriptive or explanatory purpose

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Advantage:– Provides efficient way of collecting responses from a large

sample– Required less skill and sensitivity than semi-structure and

in-depth interviews– Ability to generalize the results (depends to your sample

size)• Disadvantage– You have only one chance of collecting data– Not suitable for exploratory studies– Difficult to maintain good response rate

Ensuring Essential Data are Collected

• Decide whether the main outcome of your research is descriptive or explanatory.

• Sub-divide each research question/objective into more specific investigative questions about which you need to collect data.

• Develop measurement questions to capture the data at level required for each variable.

Enhancing Response Rate

• You should observe the following:– Careful design of individual questions– Clear and pleasing layout of the questions– Clear explanation of the purpose of the

questionnaire– Pilot testing– Carefully planned and executed administration

Types of Questions• Open questions (use only if you are unsure the response)• List questions (offer a respond a list of responses)• Category questions (respondent’s answer can fit only one

category)• Ranking questions (ask the respondent to place things in rank

order)• Rating questions (used to collect opinion questions using

likert-scale rating)• Quantity questions (number is required)• Matrix questions (questions are listed down and responses

are listed top)

Conclusion• Process of Using Questionnaires:– For this stage better to adopt/adapt used/

developed questionnaire from prior studies with same research area because of:• Validity and reliability issues are minimal• No need time to develop from scratch• No need to discuss and justify in paragraphs how you

developed your questionnaire.

SIMAD University

Data and Data CollectionInterviews

Ali Yassin Sheikh

Collecting Primary Data Using Semi-structured, In-depth and Group Interviews

• Introduction • Types of interviews• When to use non-standardised (qualitative)

interviews• Data quality issues and preparing for the

interview• Interviewing competence• Group interview and focus groups• Conclusion

Introduction• Definition:– An interview is a purposively discussion between

two or more people (Kahn & Cannell, 1957).• Semi-structured interview: the interviewer commences

with a set of themes without order and new themes are added based on the situation.

– It can facilitate gathering valid and reliable data that are relevant to your research objectives.

Types of Interviews

• Interview may be both formalized, structured (standardized) or informal and unstructured conversations:– Structured interview– Semi-structured interview– Unstructured or in-depth interviews– Or simply standardised or non-standardised

interviews

• Structured interviews: – use questionnaires based on a predetermined and

standardised. – or identical set of questions referred to as

interviewer-administered questionnaires.– You read out each question and then record the

response.– They can be used to collect quantifiable data.

Types of Interviews, cont…

Types of Interviews, cont…

• Semi-structured and in-depth interviews are non standardised– They are often referred to as qualitative research

interviews.– The researcher may have set of questions, although these

may vary from interview to interview.– The order of questions may be varied depending on flow

of the conversation.– Data will be recorded by audio-recording the conversation

or note taking.

Types of Interviews, cont…

• Un-structured interviews: are informal– It is used for exploring in depth a general area in

which you are interested.– There is no predetermined questions to work

through.– However, you need to have a clear idea about the

aspect you intend to explore.

Types of Interviews, cont…

• In exploratory study– In-depth interviews can be helpful to find out what is

happening to seek insights• Semi-structured interviews may also be used in relation to an

exploratory study

– In descriptive studies, structured interviews can be used as a means to identify general patterns

– In explanatory study, semi-structured interviews may be used to understand the relationship between variables.• Structured interview is also relevant

When to use non-standardised (qualitative) interview

• Four aspects should be considered using qualitative interviews:– The purpose and the strategy of the research– The significance of establishing personal contact– The nature of the data collection questions– The length of time required and completeness of

the process

Data quality issues and preparing for the interview

• Data quality issues are raised in using semi-structured and in-depth interviews:– Reliability– Forms of bias– Validity, and– Generalisibility

Interviewing competence

• In order to develop and demonstrate competence in conducting semi-structured and in-depth interviews– Observe the following:• Opining the interview• Using appropriate language• Questioning and listening skills• Testing and summarizing understanding• Recognizing and dealing with difficult participants• Recording data

Group interviews and focus groups

• Group interview:– General term to describe all non-standardised

interviews conducted with two or more people:• Focus group• Discussion group

Conclusion• Process of Using Interview:– The key point for you to consider is the

consistency between your:• Research question and objectives• The strategy you will employ, and• The methods of data collection you will use

– The key to a successful interview is careful preparation (five Ps: prior planning prevents poor performance)