Topic 3 - Questionnaires

What is a Questionnaire?

A set of written, standardised questions given to participants — often used to gather quantitative data on attitudes, behaviours, or characteristics.

Two types of Questionnaire

• Closed-ended (e.g. tick boxes, multiple choice) → 💯 quantifiable

• Open-ended (e.g. "Why do you like school?") → 🗣 more qualitative, but harder to analyse

Which prefer this positivists/interpreivitst?

Positivists prefer questionnaires

Why Positivists Like Questionnaires

• They’re quantitative, so they can be analysed statistically.

• Standardised = reliable and comparable

• Can be distributed to large samples = more representative and generalisable

Why Interpretivists Don’t

• They lack validity

• Don't explore meanings or contexts

• May misinterpret questions or not answer truthfully

Theoretical Issues

Concept	Strength	Weakness

Reliability

✅ High – everyone answers the same questions

❌ Can’t probe or clarify misunderstandings

Validity

❌ Low – answers may be dishonest, rushed or misunderstood

✅ Can be improved with open-ended questions (but harder to analyse)

Representativeness

✅ Large samples possible, especially with postal/online delivery

❌ Low response rates can make them unrepresentative

Generalisability

✅ If sample is large and diverse, findings can be generalised

❌ If certain groups don't respond (e.g. low-income students), results are biased

Practical Issues

Issue	Explanation
✅ Quick & cheap	Especially if distributed online or by post
✅ Easy to replicate	Standard format, great for comparisons
❌ Low response rates	Especially from busy teachers or disinterested students
❌ Misinterpretation	Pupils may not understand complex questions
❌ Literacy barriers	Especially for younger pupils or EAL learners (English as an additional language)

Ethical Issues

Issue	Explanation

✅ Consent is easy

Filling it out = implied consent

✅ Anonymity & confidentiality

Easy to maintain, especially in anonymous surveys

⚠ Right to withdraw

Must be clearly stated on the form

⚠ Sensitive topics

Questions about bullying, poverty, or family life may upset students — even if it seems harmless