Ch. 9 Outline

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12bf0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="12c203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOCIOLOGY 212: RESEARCH METHODS"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to<B>  </B><A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles / Overheads "><U><B>Articles / Overheads </B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12af2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alienation"><U>Alienation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Applied"><U>Applied</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ch. 14 Stats Review"><U>Ch. 14 Stats Review</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Airline"><U>Airline</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Big Picture"><U>Big Picture</U></A></div> <div> <B>Ch. 9 Outline</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Levels of Measurement"><U>Levels of Measurement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>--Type Title Here--</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Units of Analysis"><U>Units of Analysis</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12df0f03.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B>SOC 212: Chapter 9</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>QUIDELINES FOR ASKING QUESITONS:</B>  </div> <div> <B><U>Questions or Statement</U></B> - Can use either or Both.  </div> <div> <B><U>Closed-Ended vs. Open-Ended </U></B> -  Will DEPEND on what you are looking for with each question.</div> <div> <B><U>Question Design and Wording</U></B>: - Especially for Closed-Ended Questions</div> <div> <B><U>Make Items Clear</U></B> - Clear wording and Unambiguous </div> <div> <B><U>Avoid Double-Barreled Questions</U></B> -Two or MORE Questions in One.  </div> <div> <B><U>Respondent Must be Competent</U></B> - Can they answer in a reliable matter. Is the Question <B>RELEVANT</B> to them.</div> <div> <B><U>Respondent Must be Willing to Answer</U></B> - <B>HONESTY</B> (Key) If there is a fear of Incrimination, Reprisal, Harm, etc., they will be reluctant to answer correctly.</div> <div> <B><U>Relevant Questions</U></B> - Relevant to the population you are surveying.  </div> <div> <B><U>Short Items are Best</U></B> - If the respondent has to Study or Decipher item, they will be less likely to answer.</div> <div> <B><U>Avoid Negative Items</U></B> - Very Easy to Misunderstand</div> <div> <B><U>Avoid Biased Items and Terms</U></B><B>:   OVERHEAD</B></div> <div> <B>Leading Questions</B>: (pg. 246 text)  Leading Respondent to Answer a Given Way -</div> <div> <B>Impact of Wording / Terms</B>:  Can be subtle / Unintentional <B>- </B>(Pg. 246 text)</div> <div> <B>Social Desirability or Conformity</B> - Tendency of Respondent to Select Answers on the Basis of Their <B>Perceived Social Standards</B>.</div> <div> <B>Response Set</B> - Tendency of Respondent to fall into a <B>PATTERN</B> of Responding.  </div> <bR> <div> Be Careful when examining the Purpose of Your Study - What are your Intentions. Construct Items that will be MOST Useful.  <B>OFTEN</B> - can HELP by asking several questions that hit same idea. Don't Use Abbreviations or Jargon - clear and could be understood by population being surveyed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION: formatting is just as important as wording </B></div> <div> <B><U>Should Be</U></B>:  Spread Out and Uncluttered - appealing to the eye</div> <bR> <div> <B>FORMATTING</B>:</div> <div> <B><U>Formats for Respondents</U></B>: Usually Circle or Check Response.  <B>Coded Numbers</B> give the <B>Advantage</B> later on when it comes to <B>Data Entry</B>.   </div> <div> <B><U>Cafeteria Questions</U></B>: known as Multiple Response Items -Respondent pick &choose from selection of responses.  “Checking only those that apply.”</div> <div> <B><U>Contingency</U></B>:  Diverts respondent to different questions or directs them to Skip questions CONTIGENT on responses to a prior question.</div> <div> <B><U>Matrix</U></B>:  When you have several questions with same set of Response Options.  <B>NOT</B> Necessarily a <B>SCALE NOR</B> and <B>INDEX</B> - Just a Format.</div> <div> <B>Advantage</B>:  saves space, keeps it looking neat, can find answer faster</div> <div> <B>Disadvantage</B>:  response set bias </div> <div> <B><U>Item Order</U></B>:  Important to maximize interest and to word-off influence of some question. </div> <div> Usually Best to begin w/most interesting questions.  Demographics are usually last.</div> <div> Influence responses given to one question through placement of others.  (Pg. 250 text)</div> <div> Usually Best to <B>Group Items </B>according to <B>Topic</B> </div> <div> d.   Best <B>NOT</B> to start the questionnaire with very Sensitive Matters</div> <div> <B><U>Instructions</U></B>:  Instructions specifying what is expected & how to answer.  Sub-Sections, introduce sub-sections.  Instructions help the Survey to appear ordered, less chaotic, especially when you are addressing <B>Several Topics</B> throughout Survey.</div> <div> <B><U>Pre-testing Questionnaire</U></B>:  Helps weed-out problematic wording, confusing questions or responses, & issues regarding response options - Mutually Exclusive and Exhaustive.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>