10.12-Unit 8 - Data From Questionnaires

Unit 8: Introduction to Data Collection Instruments:
Data from Questionnaires
DR. VUONG THI HAI YEN
N01: Griffe, D. T, An introduction to second language research methods: Design and

Data. TESL- EJ Publication, 2012. (p135-150)
Objectives:
1. Introduction about questionnaire

2. the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires
3. The process of Data Collection from Questionnaires
1. Introduction to Data Collection Instruments
Data collection
 The process of gathering raw facts or evidence

about a subject of interest in a systematic way, that
enables one to answer stated research questions and
evaluate outcomes.
 It can also be defined as gathering of information
(figures, words or responses) that describes some
situation from which conclusions can be drawn.
10-Dec-23
Data collection methods
 Data-collection methods allow us to systematically collect

information about our objects of study (people, objects) and
about the settings in which they occur.
 Data collection tools are instruments that are used hand in
hand with the data collection methods to collect/retrieve data.
 To avoid confusion in the use of terms, the following table
points out the distinction between techniques and tools applied
in data collection.
10-Dec-23
Data collection techniques and tools
Techniques Tools
• Administering written • Questionnaire.
questionnaires.
• Interviewing • Interview guide, checklist,

tape recorder.
• Observation • Eyes and other senses,
pen/paper, microscope.
• Using available information • Check lists, data compilation
forms.
Approaches to data collection
 There are two major approaches to gathering information

about a situation, person, problem or phenomenon.
 Sometimes, information required is already available and need
only to be extracted.
 However, there are times when the information must be
collected fresh from field.
 Based upon these two broad approaches to information
gathering, data in scientific research are categorized as;
Types of data
 Secondary data
 Primary data
 Secondary data: Data that previously may have been collected for other
purposes but can be used in the immediate study.
 Examples of secondary sources include the use of population census data to
obtain information on age-sex structure of a population, use of
organizations‘ records, use of hospitals records, and collection of data from
sources such as journals, magazines, books and other periodicals.

Primary data
 Primary data: Raw data that has been originally collected by

the researcher specifically for the study at hand.
 Examples of information from primary sources include;
interviewing community inhabitants to find out their attitudes
towards health services, using questionnaires to determine
the level of job satisfaction of employees in an organization,
observing students behaviors in class etc
 In conclusion, primary sources provide first hand data and
secondary sources provide second hand data.
Data collection methods
2. Introduction about questionnaire
 Questionnaires as data-gathering instruments

are popular research instruments in many fields
including communication, education,
psychology, and sociology. In applied
linguistics, questionnaires are used not only for
primary research, but also to supplement other
kinds of research interests.
The questionnaire
A questionnaire is a written list of questions, the answers to
which are recorded by respondents.
 Inquestionnaire respondents read the question, interpret what is
expected and the write down the answers.
 Unlike an interview guide in which the researcher may explain
the meaning of some questions, in the case of questionnaire,
there is no one to explain the meaning of questions to
respondents.
 Therefore questions in a questionnaire must be clear and easy to
understand.
Ways of administering a questionnaire
 A questionnaire can be administered in different ways..

A mailed questionnaire – one approach to collecting information is
to send the questionnaire to prospective respondents by mail.
Obviously, this method presupposes that u have access to their
address. One of the major problem with this approach is the low
response rate.
 Collective administration – one of the best ways of administering
questionnaires is to obtain a captive audience such as students in a
class room, people attending a function, or people assembled in one
place. This ensures a high response rate as you will find very few
people refusing to participate in your study.
Contents of a questionnaire cover letter
 It is essential that you write a cover letter to accompany your
questionnaire. It should very briefly:
 Introduce you and the institution you are representing.
 Describe in two or three lines the main objective of the study.
 Convey any general instructions.
 Assure respondents of the anonymity of the information provided by
them.
 Provide a contact number in case they have questions.
 Give them a return address for the questionnaire and a deadline for its
return.
 Thank them for their participation.
DCT QUESTIONNAIRE
https://jurnal.umk.ac.id/index.php/Pro/article/
view/8257/pdf
2. the advantages and disadvantages of
questionnaires
Advantages Disadvantages
•Less expensive to administer •Limited application.
mostly if the collective method is
used.
•Able to collect information from •Lack of opportunity to clarify
a larger sample issues.
• it offers greater anonymity. •Low response rate.
•It is possible to consult others.
• Spontaneous responses may not

be possible mostly if it’s a mailed
questionnaire.
3. The process of Data Collection from
Questionnaires
 Typically, a questionnaire is formatted into three

parts:
 1) demographics,
 2) closed-ended items, and
 3) open-ended items.
Layout of a one-page questionnaire showing the placement of demographic
information, closed-ended items, and open-ended items
Forms of questions in a questionnaire
 In a questionnaires, questions may be formulated as;
 Closed ended or
 Open ended
 In a closed-ended question, the possible answers are set out in the
questionnaire and the respondent ticks the category that best describes the
respondents answer. E.g.
 Please tick the type of research you would love to undertake.
Applied research Basic Research descriptive research quantitative
 In open ended questions, the possible responses are not given. The
respondent writes down the answers in his/her words. E.g.
 Please explain why you opted for a Bachelors degree in Information
technology?
Considerations in formulating questions
 The wording and the tone of your question is

important because the information and its quality
largely depend upon these factors.
 It is therefore important to be careful about the
way you formulate questions.
 Some considerations to keep in mind when
formulating questions are as follows;
Always use simple and everyday language. Take extra

care to use words that your respondents will
understand as you may no have the opportunity to
explain questions to them. Words like; “is your family a
dipsomaniac” may be hard for respondents to
interpret.
Do not ask double barreled questions. A double barreled
question is a question within a question. E.g. “How
often and how much time do you spend in the computer
lab”?
 Do not ask leading questions – these are questions in which, by

their nature, contents, structure or wording leads a respondent to
answer in a certain direction. E.g. “unemployment is increasing at
a very high rate isn’t it” or “smoking is bad isn’t it?”
 The order of questions also matters. Questions should follow a

logical progression based upon the objectives of the study.
When to use a questionnaire?
 When resources and money are limited.
 When it is necessary to protect the privacy of the participants.
 When you want to collect data from a relatively bigger

population.
 Etc..

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Unit 8: Introduction to Data Collection Instruments:

Data from Questionnaires

DR. VUONG THI HAI YEN

N01: Griffe, D. T, An introduction to second language research methods: Design and

1. Introduction about questionnaire

 The process of gathering raw facts or evidence

 Data-collection methods allow us to systematically collect

• Interviewing • Interview guide, checklist,

 There are two major approaches to gathering information

 Primary data: Raw data that has been originally collected by

 Questionnaires as data-gathering instruments

 A questionnaire can be administered in different ways..

•It is possible to consult others.

• Spontaneous responses may not

 Typically, a questionnaire is formatted into three

 The wording and the tone of your question is

Always use simple and everyday language. Take extra

 Do not ask leading questions – these are questions in which, by

 The order of questions also matters. Questions should follow a

 When resources and money are limited.

 When it is necessary to protect the privacy of the participants.

 When you want to collect data from a relatively bigger

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