The Advantages of Questionnaire Surveys
Questionnaires can be a useful tool to gather survey information from a large number of people. A questionnaire can be fact- or opinion-based and may be answered by choosing from a list of options or writing out responses by hand. There are several advantages to using a questionnaire format. It's cost-effective, easy to analyze, reduces bias and is less intrusive than other survey methods.
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Cost-Effective
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A questionnaire is a cost-effective survey method. Researchers can survey large samples of the population across wide geographic areas much less expensively than conducting face-to-face interviews because they don't need to travel to reach participants or rent interview space. Mail or telephone questionnaires can be conducted at a relatively low cost, and online surveys are even less expensive.
Easy to Analyze
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Computers can easily analyze the results of a questionnaire. Online questionnaires are easiest to analyze because they are directly imported into a database and statistically analyzed. Programs like Microsoft Access and SPSS will insert online questionnaire survey results into spreadsheets and databases, which reduces human error in analyzing the results.
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Reduces Bias
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Written or electronic questionnaires reduce bias that may occur in face-to-face interviews. When completing a questionnaire, there are no verbal or visual clues from an interviewer that may influence the person surveyed. The responses from a questionnaire are gathered in a standardized manner, so they're more objective than interview results. A computer program will automatically process responses and present them objectively, unlike interviewers who subjectively interpret what the person surveyed said or meant.
Less Intrusive
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Questionnaires are less intrusive than other survey methods like focus groups or interviews. People participating in surveys can complete them whenever they want. They're also more likely to respond honestly to questions if they know their answers are anonymous. People are even more likely to answer uncomfortable or personal questions in an online questionnaire than in a telephone or face-to-face interview.
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References
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