Data collection is a systematic process in

gathering relevant information, observations, or Advantages of Using Questionnaire

measurements. 1. Bulk data can be gathered in less time.
2. Online survey is quick and cost-effective.
Before you begin collecting data, you need to 3. Less chance of bias.
consider: (1) the aim of the research; (2) the type 4. Respondents can answer the questionnaire
of data that you will collect; and (3) the methods without revealing their identity.
and procedures you will use to collect, store, and 5. Easy analysis and visualization
process the data. Quantitative research
instruments comprise observation, Disadvantages of Using Questionnaire
questionnaires, test, and interviews. On the other 1. Questionnaires may not be return on time
hand, data collection approaches for qualitative 2. Questionnaires may lost
research usually involve: (a) direct interaction with 3. Understanding and interpretation of the
individuals on a one- -one basis, (b) and or direct questions varies by the participants
interaction to with individuals in a group setting. 4. Participants may not be able to complete the
required responses
When developing and utilizing a research 5. Emotions and feelings are hard to convey.
instrument the following steps are to be 6. Participants may lack depth answer.
considered:
1. Define the aim of your research (research Guidelines in Using Questionnaires for Data
question). Collection
2. Choose your data collection method. 1. Determine the data to be collected.
3. Plan your data collection procedures.
4. Collect and verify your data. 2. Determine the method to be used in
5. Present your findings. administering the questionnaire such as face-to-
face or online method. Divide your questionnaire
Research Instruments into two or three parts.
Questionnaires - Personal information. This section which
A questionnaire is a research instrument that contains background information of the
consists of a set of questions that aims to collect participants. (Names are optional)
information from a respondent. A research - Main section. This lists the specific questions or
questionnaire is typically a mix of close ended indicators.
questions open-ended questions. - Open-ended question section. This contains
A questionnaire may or in may not be delivered in additional information that might be needed. (This
the form of a survey, but a survey always consists applied only for quantitative research)
of a questionnaire.
The terms survey and questionnaire have 3. Make sure to provide specific and clear
different meanings A questionnaire is an directions for respondents in answering the
instrument used to collect data while survey is a questionnaire.
process of collecting, recording, and analyzing
data. Questionnaires can be structured, semi- 4. Decide on the questionnaire structure, type of
structured, or unstructured. In quantitative questions and response format. Evaluate the
research, questionnaires use the following questions and options and make sure that they
approaches: (1) scale (usually Likert scale); and are aligned with specific research questions or
(2) conversion of responses into numerical objectives.
values, e.g., strongly as 5, agree as 4, neutral as
3, disagree as 2, and strongly disagree as 1. 5. Decide on using simple terms, avoid negative
statements, leading, biased, double barred, or
There are three structures of questionnaires: sensitive questions and make a brief, clear, and
1. Structured questionnaires employ closed- concise questionnaire.
ended questions
2. Unstructured questionnaires, on the other 6. Begin with the general questions first
hand, use open-ended followed by the specific ones.
3. Semi-structured questionnaires are
combinations of both the structured and 7. Predetermined responses should match the
unstructured ones. nature of the questions.
- If the content is about quality, use quality This test very simple to use and is may not be
(excellent, very good, good, poor) Later, these scored uniformly. It is administered to a certain
responses will be translated into numerical values set of people.
(e.g. five-point Likert scale) Types of Test Questions
- If questions are about frequency, use frequency 1. Recall Questions. It requires participants to
(always, frequently, sometimes, seldom, never) recall information from memory (e.g., fillin-the
- If the content is about belief, use agreement blank test, identification test, enumeration test,
(strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly etc.)
disagree 2. Recognition Questions. It allows
- If the questionnaire is about behavior, use extent participants to select from given choices the best
(very great extent, great extent, moderate extent, or correct choice (e.g., multiple-choice test, true
small extent, none at all) or false test, yes or no test, etc.)
3. Open-ended Questions. It allows the
8. If possible, schedule an appointment before participants more freedom in their responses,
distributing the questionnaires. expressing their thoughts and insights (e.g.,
essay writing tests and other performance-based
9. Attach a cover letter to the questionnaire tests.
especially for agency connected respondents.

10. Contact participants who did not to return

the questionnaire. Here are elaborate types of test and examples:
1. RECALL TESTS
11. Tally and encode the data immediately once - Identification- the participants will provide an
you have collected them. Keep a soft copy of your answer to the question using simple memory
data. recall. Example: What do you call an angle whose
measurement is 90 degrees?
- Enumeration- the participants will list down the
Tests answers or steps Example: List down the steps in
Tests are used for measuring various skills and solving a problem.
types of behavior, personality, achievement, - Cloze Test the participants will supply an
performance, well as for describing some cha as answer to t- he blank spaces. Example:
racteristics. It is also used to develop to measure The graph pf a quadratic function is a ________
specific knowledge, skill, or cognitive activity.
2. RECOGNITION TESTS
There are two types of tests used in quantitative
research: standardized test and -stand non
ardized test.

Standardized test is a test that is given to a

group of people such as students or professionals
in a very consistent manner; meaning that the
questions on the test are all the same, the time
given to each test-taker is the same, and the way 3.OPEN-ENDED TESTS
in which the test is scored is the same for all. It is - Performance-based- the participants are
considered as more reliable and valid. Examples expected to perform a given task. Example:
are Licensure Exam, Achievement test, Create a video presentation showing the step--
College/University Entrance Exam, Personality step process of by solving quadratic equations.
Tests, IQ test and the likes. - Non-performance based- the participants may
answer orally or in a written manner. Example:
Non-standardized test is a test that allows for an Explain the mathematical procedures you apply to
assessment of an individual's abilities or transform the given quadratic equation to
performances but doesn't allow for a fair standard form.
comparison of one individual to another.