Closed-Ended Questionnaire

Definition

A closed-ended questionnaire is a survey tool that provides respondents with a limited set of predefined responses to choose from, often in the form of multiple-choice, yes/no, or rating scale questions. This format allows for easy data collection and analysis, as responses can be quickly quantified and compared. The use of closed-ended questions is common in surveys to ensure consistency and clarity in responses, making it easier to measure specific variables and draw conclusions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Closed-ended questionnaires can help reduce ambiguity in responses, as they limit the options available to respondents.
2. These questionnaires are often used for quantitative research, making it easier to perform statistical analysis on the collected data.
3. They can be administered in various formats, including paper surveys, online forms, and telephone interviews.
4. Respondents may feel more comfortable answering sensitive questions when given predefined options rather than open-ended responses.
5. While closed-ended questions provide valuable data, they may restrict the depth of information obtained compared to open-ended questions.

Review Questions

• How do closed-ended questionnaires enhance the reliability of survey data?
  • Closed-ended questionnaires enhance the reliability of survey data by providing standardized response options that minimize variability in how questions are interpreted by different respondents. This consistency ensures that data collected is more uniform, making it easier to compare and analyze across different participants. By limiting responses, researchers can reduce subjective interpretations and focus on quantifiable metrics, leading to more reliable conclusions.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using closed-ended questionnaires compared to open-ended ones.
  • Using closed-ended questionnaires offers several advantages, such as ease of data collection, quicker response times, and simpler data analysis due to quantifiable answers. However, they also come with disadvantages like potentially missing out on rich qualitative insights that open-ended questions provide. Closed-ended formats can limit respondents' ability to express nuanced opinions, which may lead to oversimplified understanding of complex topics.
• Evaluate how the design of closed-ended questionnaires can impact the validity of survey results in social research.
  • The design of closed-ended questionnaires can significantly impact the validity of survey results in social research. If questions are poorly worded or if the response options do not accurately reflect the possible views of respondents, the data collected may misrepresent the true opinions or behaviors of the target population. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to question phrasing and response categories to ensure they capture relevant nuances and avoid leading respondents towards biased answers.

Related terms

Open-Ended Questionnaire: A type of survey where respondents are allowed to answer questions in their own words, providing more detailed and qualitative data.

Likert Scale: A measurement scale often used in closed-ended questionnaires that asks respondents to indicate their level of agreement or satisfaction on a symmetric agree-disagree scale.

Survey Sampling: The process of selecting a subset of individuals from a larger population to participate in a survey, ensuring the sample accurately represents the population.