Surveys/Questionnaires

Question 1

Surveys/questionnaires

Answer 1

• are used to collect primary quantitive data from large groups of people
• usually carried out using structured questionnaires or interviews

Question 2

Closed questions

Answer 2

• choose from a list that the researcher has compiled = easily quantified

Question 3

Open questions

Answer 3

• allowed to answer what they want to and in their own words = answers are qualitative

Question 4

Strengths of surveys

Answer 4

P + can be distributed to a large number of people = representative
P + quick cheap
E + anonymity and confidentiality can be ensured
T + positivists like because it is easy to quantify and look for patterns and correlations

Question 5

Limitations of surveys

Answer 5

P - response rate can be low (if posted) e.g. Hite (1991) sent out 100,000 surveys and 4.5% returned
T - interpretivists dislike = responses may be changed to seem respectable or better
T- limited choice if closed Qs (imposition problem)