Asking questions
In order to post-code answers to open questions, it is necessary to:
Count the frequency with which each answer has been given
Categorize unstructured material and assign a code number to each category
Identify the three most commonly cited responses and give them a code
Find out where each respondent lives and make a note of their postcode
Categorize unstructured material and assign a code number to each category
Coding is an essential step in research, so that data can be grouped into categories and the results compared, for example. Coding can be done in advance for closed questions, often referred to as ‘pre-coding’. ‘Post-coding’, in contrast, is coding done after the data has been gathered. The frequency with which a particular answer is given is a straightforward computation exercise and, in any event, can be catered for with pre-coding. However, the answers given to open questions can be quite varied and individualistic, so the first task is to categorise them, according to research themes and then assign a number to each category so that quantitative analysis can be performed. This number is the code. When more than one researcher is involved, it is a good practice to produce a coding frame from which each researcher works.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 245
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 245
Categorize unstructured material and assign a code number to each category Coding is an essential step in research, so that data can be grouped into categories and the results compared, for example. Coding can be done in advance for closed questions, often referred to as ‘pre-coding’. ‘Post-coding’, in contrast, is coding done after the data has been gathered. The frequency with which a particular answer is given is a straightforward computation exercise and, in any event, can be catered for with pre-coding. However, the answers given to open questions can be quite varied and individualistic, so the first task is to categorise them, according to research themes and then assign a number to each category so that quantitative analysis can be performed. This number is the code. When more than one researcher is involved, it is a good practice to produce a coding frame from which each researcher works.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 245
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 245
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Which of the following is a general rule of thumb for designing questions?A. Always bear in mind your research questions
B. Never ask a closed question
C. Always use vignettes rather than open questions
D. Use ambiguous terms to put respondents at ease
You should avoid using double-barrelled questions in a survey because:
A. They rely too much on a respondent’s memory
B. They make the questions too long, so respondents lose interest
C. They are too abstract and general in scope
D. They confuse respondents by asking about two different things
Informant factual questions are those that:
A. Enquire about personal details such as age, income and occupation
B. Ask people about the characteristics of a social setting or entity that they know well
C. Seek to find out about people’s attitudes and opinions on a range of topics
D. Try to identify the normative standards and values held by a social group
Which of the following is not an advantage of using closed questions in a survey?
A. It reduces the risk of variability in the way answers are recorded
B. It makes answers easier to process and analyse
C. They prevent respondents from giving spontaneous, unexpected answers
D. Closed questions are quicker and easier for respondents to complete
The UK Data Archive is a useful resource for:
A. Studying the way questions have been successfully used in previous surveys
B. Stealing other people’s questions without their permission
C. Learning more about your topic so that you can devise leading questions
D. Keeping your research questions in a safe place
Leading questions should also be avoided because:
A. They suggest ways of answering and so may bias the results
B. They create a mismatch between the question and its possible answers
C. They involve negative terms and unnecessary jargon
D. They ask about several different things at the same time
An open question is one that:
A. Allows respondents to answer in their own terms
B. Does not suggest or provide a limited range of responses
C. Can help to generate answers for closed questions
D. All of the above
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