Backroom Research

I find this week’s lecture and readings quite interesting as I have now formulated a research question and completed my Research Proposal (Assignment #2) which includes the use of quantitative methods, particularly questionnaires.  I really find Knight’s advice on formulating questionnaires helpful as he discusses aspects that I would never have thought of.  He advises, for example, that it is important to firstly think about why a questionnaire is appropriate for addressing your research questions (p. 92).  Secondly, the questionnaire should address exactly what should be investigated (the key areas) and carrying out a literature review can aid a researcher in discovering these key issues.  If these issues are not factored into the questionnaire then important questions do not get asked (p. 93).  Thirdly, technical skills are imperative, meaning the ways in which questions and statements are formulated.  Knight advises to keep questionnaires short, in plain English, to keep the order of questions in mind (as they can have an effect on the answers) and to have plenty of white space on the page (p. 93-94).  Fourthly, and I think most importantly, questionnaires should be piloted which could even be done through enlisting the help of friends (p. 94).  All these aspects, and more, should be taken into consideration to prevent a faulty questionnaire which, according to Knight, can be quite costly compared to a faulty interview (p. 87).