Self-Report Methods: Questionnaires

Questionnaires are brilliant tools that let researchers ask loads of people the same questions without having to interview each person individually. They're basically written surveys with pre-set questions that can be handed out in person, posted online, sent through the mail, or even done over the phone.

You'll find questionnaires everywhere - from market research about your favourite brands to psychological studies exploring mental health. They're particularly useful in survey research where scientists want to understand large groups of people's opinions and attitudes quickly.

The beauty of questionnaires lies in their flexibility. Researchers can reach hundreds or even thousands of participants simultaneously, making them incredibly efficient for gathering data.

Quick Tip: Think about the last time you filled out a customer feedback form - that's a questionnaire in action!

Closed Questions vs Open Questions

Closed questions are like multiple choice tests - you pick from a limited set of answers that researchers have already decided on. For example, "Do you exercise?" might only give you options like "yes/no" or "I exercise ___ times a week."

These questions create quantitative data that's dead easy to analyse because everything fits into neat categories. However, they're pretty limiting since you can't explain your reasoning or add extra details that might be important.

Open questions are the complete opposite - they let you respond however you want with no restrictions. Something like "How does seeing unleashed dogs in public make you feel?" allows for completely personal, detailed responses.

While open questions give you qualitative data that's rich in detail and really insightful, they're an absolute nightmare to analyse. Every response is different, making it tricky to spot patterns or themes across hundreds of answers.

Remember: Closed questions = quick analysis but limited depth; Open questions = detailed insights but time-consuming analysis.