DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS

ASSIGNMENT ASSESSMENT FORM

Name: Ndlovu Makhosonke

Reg. No: L012 0328F

Course Name: Research Methods and Statistics

Programme: Post Graduate Diploma in Education

Assignment Title:

Assess costs and benefits of questionnaires as a data collecting instruments in research

Both secondary and primary data collection methods have become widely used by different
researchers. However, scholars like Saunders (2007) indicate that primary data collection have
become the dominating approach in most researches as it involves data that is extracted from the
field of study in their raw state. Thus, different tools have been galvanized into action to gather
primary data and among these tools there is observation, interviews, questionnaires and focus
group discussion. Being imperative to note is that each of these tools has its own limitations and
advantages in data collection. Therefore, the major idea behind this essay is to assess costs and
benefits of these tools though with reference to questionnaires as a data collecting instruments in
research. As this paper unfolds it will define key terms and go straight to the main discussion and
final conclude by indicating weather questionnaire are associated with costs or benefits.
Research as defined by Popper (2004) is an organized and systematic way of finding answers to
questions. Sekaran (2007) on the other hand defines a research as a systematic and organized
effort to investigate a specific problem that needs a solution. Thus based on these definitions one
may see that the research is systematic because it has definite set of procedures and steps which
are to be followed. It is organized in the sense that there is a structure or method in going about
doing research as it has a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. Finding answers is the end
of all research while questions or problems are central to research. If there is no
question/problem, then the answer is of no use meaning that without a question, research has no
focus, drive or purpose.
A questionnaire on the other hand is simply a tool for collecting and recording information
about a particular issue of interest (Oppenheim, 2002). A questionnaire is a research tool through
which people are asked to respond to the same set of questions in a predetermined order. There

are different types of questionnaires in research and these are closed-ended and open ended
questionnaires.
To start with is that questionnaires have an advantage of that there accommodate large amounts
of information which can be collected from a large number of people within a short period of
time (Chapin and Rugeley, 2009). This is so because a large batch of questionnaire can be
administer to a large number of respondents at a go as there are answered at an individual level.
Thus with this on hand one may safely say questionnaires are an advantages tool in gathering
data. However, Popper, (2004) on the other hand argues and say there is nothing systematic with
questionnaires as dishonesty can be an issue. It should be noted that respondents in their
responses may not be 100 percent truthful in their answers. This can happen for a variety of
reasons, including embarrassment and attempting to protect privacy as claimed by (Menter et al,
2011). With this on hand one may say the reliability and validity of the data collected by a
questionnaire is here nor there. In analysis, despite the fact that questionnaires are associated
with dishonesty there have an advantage of accommodating large amounts of data
Whilst the above said points hold true, it is also true that the other benefit of questionnaires is
that there reduces chance of evaluator bias (Jacobson, Chapin and Rugeley, 2009). This is so
because respondents are asked similar questions. Besides the questions being standardized, there
is also no interference with third parties as the responder has to answer uninfluenced. This
clearly indicates that questionnaires are an ideal in data collecting as there reduce biasness.
Different from Jacobson, Chapin and Rugeley (2009)s opinion is Popper (2004) who alludes
that questionnaire disciples are just whistling in the dark as the tool does not capture emotional
responses or the feelings of the respondents. It is indeed true, without administering the

questionnaire face-to-face, there is no way to observe facial expression, reactions or body

language, thus some useful data may be left uncaptured. This therefore shows that questionnaires
if un-aided with other tools (triangulation) can be costs to research findings. In analysis while
questionnaires are less bias there have a problem of failing to capture emotional feelings.
In addition to the points above, questionnaires have an advantage of that there are quick and easy
to collect and quantify data by the researcher or through the use of a software package
(Oppenheim, 2002). Agreeing with Oppenheim (2002) are BMRA researchers (2003) who
indicate that this is so because close ended questioners require a straightforward response there
by enabling the researcher to gain insights of the results within a short time, hence making
questionnaires a blessing rather than a curse in the collection of data. However, some critics like
Russ and Preskill (2001) indicate that it is not wise to label questionnaires as a blessing in data
collection as there have a cost of that there lack conscientious responses. Every administrator
hopes for conscientious responses, but at times respondents when answering to a questionnaire
choose answers before fully reading the question or the potential answers. More so, respondents
sometimes even skip through questions, there by posing a question on the validity of the research
findings. With this on hand it will be not vindictive for one to rise and say questionnaires are
associated with costs.
Scholars like Jacobson, Chapin and Rugeley (2009) agree in opinion that questioners are
relatively cost effective in gathering both qualitative and quantitative data especial when
responses are gathered in a standard way. This is so because there can be done on-line without
necessarily going to see the respondents face to face. Russ and Preskill (2001) on the other hand
argue and say questionnaires have a problem of differences in understanding and interpretation
especial when not presented face to face. This therefore leads to different interpretations in

questions especial when there are not guided by someone to explain the questionnaire fully and
ensure each individual has the same understanding causing results to be subjective. More so, if
respondents fail to grasp the meaning of some questions that may seem clear to the creator
miscommunication is likely to occur leading to skewed results. Such issues reflect that while
questionnaires are cost effective there can be a stumbling block towards achieving valid and
reliable results as there are associated with miscommunication.
Lastly but not the least, according to Ackroyd and Hughes (1981) as cited by Finn and Jacobson
(2008) questionnaires have an advantage of that there user anonymity. This is so because there
allow respondents to be invisible in terms of names and addresses. As a result privacy maximizes
comfort to respondents in answering while on the other hand encourages to ease and answer
truthfully. Hence with this on hand. It goes without say that a questionnaire has many benefits in
research. However, some authorities like Oppenheim (2002) argue and say questionnaires are
time consuming for respondents, more costly and more labour intensive than any other method.
This is because there need to be precisely designed then distributed to the respondents and finally
collected back for analysis. This makes questionnaires to be a cost tool in research. In analysis it
should be realized that despite the above named benefits of questionnaires, it has also other
benefits as there can be used to create new theories and or test existing hypotheses, cover all
aspects of a topic, allow scientific analysis and predictions, respondent friendly among others.
However, that does not make them a perfect tool as there have other unnamed costs like not
showing how much thought a respondent has put in responding, affected by hidden agendas
amongst others.
Having examined this essay one can clearly see that questionnaires as a data collecting
instruments in research are associated with both benefits and costs. What remains crucial now is
5

for the researcher to choose wisely the appropriate tool to use. Therefore in conclusion,
questionnaires depending on the nature of the research, can be a benefiting tool in research.

References
Ackroyd. S. and Hughes J. A. (1981), Data Collection. In Context Longman Market Research
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http://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/downloads/revised/active/questionnare_may06.pdf .
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http://www.bmra.org.uk/researchers-toolkit/index.asp

(market research techniques data collection methods designing and conducting surveys).
Finn. J. and Jacobson. M. (2008), Just Practice: A Social Justice Approach, Eddie bowers
publishers, U.S.A.
Jacobson M. P., Chapin. K and Rugeley, C. (2009). Toward Reconstructing Poverty Knowledge:
Addressing Food Insecurity through Grassroots Research Design and Implementation,
Cambridge publishers.

Menter I, Elliot D, Hulme M, Lewin J and Loden K, (2011), A guide to practitioner researcher in
education , Sage publications, Singapore, Asia.

Oppenheim. A. N. (2002), Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement (2nd

edition). London: St Martins Press.
Popper. K. (2004), The Logic of Scientific Discovery, New York publishers, New York, U.S.A.
Russ. D. and Preskill. H. (2001), Evaluation in Organizations, New York: Basic Books, U.S.A.

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