surveys/questionnaires Flashcards
surveys/questionnaires:
- quantifiable data - can be easily converted into statistics to prove correlations
- positivism - discover social facts and record them
- standardisation of the data collected is critical
- e.g census every ten years that is useful for social trends
- data that can be directly compared
- everybody is answering the same questions so any differences in the answers will reflect real differences
- respondents must have same understanding of the information
- answers to the questions are coded into various categories so the researcher simply counts them
types of questionnaires:
- self completion - these are left with the respondent to complete
- postal
- internet
- closed-ended - respondent selects one or more from a range of responses (quantitive - reliable)
- open-ended - reply in own words (harder to categorise - qualitivitive more valid)
what are the advantages of questionnaires?
- cheap
- large sample (generalisations/representative)
- quick
- large geographical area
- easy to collect results
- results can be checked - reliable (P)
- few ethical problems
- no need to train interviewers
- anonymous
- no interviewer effect
- good for testing hypothesis
- can discover cause and effect relationships
what are the PRACTICLE DISADVANTAGES to questionnaires?
- low response rate could ruin representativeness
- respondent could misunderstand questions
- restrictive nature - can’t go beyond questions which causes low validity. only find out what you intended to find out - nothing new
- not flexible - researcher stuck with same questions
- not accurate s only researchers thoughts are explored and not subjects POV
- lies - ‘right answerism’
- data tends to be limited
what are the ETHICAL issues relating to questionnaires?
- informed consent must be gained - in schools this is given by the head teacher (gatekeeper)
- all parents must be informed
- most ethical method
- offer the respondents the choice to miss some questions that they do not want to answer
- do not ask personal questions
- confidentiality
what are the THEORETICAL considerations of questionnaires?
positivists vs interpretivists
POSITIVISTS
- prefer questionnaires
- standardised questions which produce reliable data
- no personal contact
- maintains detachment and objectivity
- large sample makes generalisation
INTERPRETIVISTS
- dislike questionnaires
- fail to produce a valid picture
- can’t explain answers
- superficial snapshots
use of surveys to study education
- operationalise concepts for pupils to understand - cultural capital - material deprivation
- suitable for age and ability of student
- should do a piolet study
- could be difficult to select a sample
- fairly easy to distribute in schools
- children could take them home to parents
- peer pressure in a classroom setting
- schools would have to give approval of the topic
what is an imposition question?
- interpretivists argue they only reflect the researchers meanings
- research sets the questions so decide what’s important
- only find out the things you asked for
- closed-ended question - researcher selects the answers - researchers values instead of respondents
- open-ended questions - researcher also catagorises answers
practice considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:
- sociologists dont need to go into schools - dont need a DBS
- questionnaires can be dropped off at school to be given to teachers to give to children which creates easy access. though children could loose them which effects result rate.
- emails - would have to ask head teacher. junk folder. may not have email
- cost is cheap
- make closed ending tick box - save time but not very valid
- could catch parents at parents eve
- busy working - teachers/parents labelled as not interested when really just working
ethical considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:
- emails - would need to access personal information through schools
- could have a harmful effect on schools if published
- could potentially harm relationships between parents/teachers - teachers may blame parents for a child being unsuccessful
- could potentially lead to labelling - ‘parents dont hep so dont care’
- parents may think its intrusive - judging parenting skills
theoretical considerations of surveys/questionnaires IN SCHOOLS:
- closed ending is reliable
- could be representative but would need to give out more questionnaires and involve more schools
- could pull a correlation to make it valid and representative - positivism - look at exam results to prove it