How to frame a questionnaire for a master’s dissertation?
Tagged: Dissertation Writing
A questionnaire is a collection of written questions designed to collect standardised information about individuals’ ideas, preferences, experiences, intentions, and behaviour for the research objectives.
While questionnaires are a relatively inexpensive, quick, and effective way of gathering a large amount of information, they are a multistage procedure that demands attention to a lot of variables at the same time to obtain the information you want.
The step-by-step guide helps you to frame a questionnaire for a master’s dissertation:
- Define your research objectives
- Determine your target population
- Decide the questionnaire format
- Choose the type of questions
- Close-ended questions: Multiple choice questions, Likert-scale questions and yes/no type questions are examples of close-ended questions.
- Open-ended questions: Open-ended questions give valuable information for qualitative research, allowing respondents to give free-text responses.
- Write a clear introduction
- Ensure a logical order for the questions
- Use concise and clear language
- Run a pilot test with the questionnaire
- Pay attention to response options
- Ensure neutrality in the questionnaire
- Evaluate the length of the questionnaire
- Make a closing statement
Begin writing the questionnaire by defining the research objectives for your master’s dissertation. What data do you need to gather to answer your research questions or test your hypotheses? Your questionnaire should be directly related to these aims.
Determine the subjects or participants who are relevant to your study. Consider the characteristics, demographics, or qualifications of your target population.
Choose a format for your questionnaire/study tool. Will it be self-administered (on paper or online), administered by an interviewer, or a hybrid of the two? Each format has advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best fits your study.
Based on your study objectives, select relevant question types. The common question types are:
Begin the questionnaire with a brief introduction that describes the goal of the study, ensures anonymity, and offers any instructions needed to complete the questionnaire.
Organise your questions in a logical order. Begin by asking simple, non-intimidating questions to engage people and establish rapport. Questions that are delicate or personal should be included at the end. Decide the overall questionnaire layout at this stage.
Make sure your questions are simple, concise, and without jargon or technical phrases that the respondents might not comprehend. Avoid using leading or biased language that may influence responses.
Run a pilot test with a small group before distributing the questionnaire to your target participants to determine any problems with question clarity, length, or language. Adapt the questionnaire based on their feedback.
Provide a balanced collection of response options while using close-ended questions, and avoid overlapping or unclear categories. Include a middle option for neutrality on Likert scale items.
Avoid asking leading or biased questions that can influence the answers given by respondents. Avoid conveying your opinions in the questionnaire by using neutral language.
Keep the questionnaire as short as possible while gathering all relevant information. Lengthier questionnaires can cause respondent fatigue and lower response rates.
Thank responders for their time and provide contact information if they have further questions or concerns.
Remember that an effective questionnaire is critical for collecting accurate and relevant data. Consider ethical factors like informed consent and data privacy throughout the questionnaire preparation and data collection process.
Check out our study guide to learn more about the various aspects related to a master’s dissertation.
