Questionnaires (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note
Exam code: 7192
Types of questionnaires
Questionnaires are a popular method of collecting quantitative data from large numbers of people
They consist of a list of written questions that respondents answer in their own time
They can be distributed in person, by post, or online and are used in both large-scale surveys and smaller sociological studies
Most questionnaires consist of a combination of open and closed questions
Closed-ended questionnaires
Use fixed-response questions such as yes/no, multiple choice, or Likert scales
E.g., "Do you attend a comprehensive school? Yes/No"
Produce quantitative data that is easy to quantify and analyse
Favoured by positivist sociologists who value reliability and generalisability
Open-ended questionnaires
Allow respondents to write their answers in their own words
E.g., "Can you describe your experiences with teachers during your time at school?"
Produce qualitative data that provides more depth and insight
Preferred by interpretivist sociologists who seek to understand meanings and experiences
Questionnaire design
When designing questionnaires, researchers should take steps to reduce bias by avoiding the following:
Emotionally charged or suggestive questions that may pressure respondents to answer in a socially acceptable way, reducing the accuracy of the data
E.g., "Have you ever been a disruptive student in class?" may lead to dishonest answers due to social stigma
Leading questions that reflect the researcher’s assumptions or opinions, which can influence how people respond
E.g., "Would you agree that school rules are too strict?" suggests a negative view of school rules
Overly technical or academic language that may confuse respondents who are not familiar with sociological terms
E.g., "Do you think your educational performance is influenced by institutional habitus?" may be unclear to those unfamiliar with the concept
Evaluation of questionnaires
Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
Quick and efficient – can gather large amounts of information from wide, geographically dispersed samples. | Not suitable for all populations – e.g., people with literacy difficulties. Often suffer from low response rates. |
Cost-effective – no need for interviewers, especially when distributed online or by post. | No clarification – without an interviewer, questions may be misunderstood or skipped, lowering validity. |
Can encourage honesty – respondents may feel more comfortable answering sensitive questions anonymously. | Risk of social desirability bias – participants may give answers they think are socially acceptable. |
Standardised format – each respondent answers the same set of questions, allowing easy comparison. | Inflexible – pre-set answers may not reflect respondents’ views; limit depth and individual expression. |
High reliability – the standardised format allows for easy replication by other researchers. | Lacks validity – closed questions may miss the richness of human experience and fail to capture full meaning. |
Generates quantitative data – suitable for identifying trends and testing hypotheses statistically. | Restricts explanation – closed questions do not allow respondents to elaborate on their choices. |
Objective method – researcher detachment reduces personal bias and increases neutrality. | May impose researcher bias – the design may reflect the researcher’s assumptions through limited answer choices. |
Ethical – generally non-intrusive and anonymous, making them low-risk. | Potential ethical concerns, especially if inappropriate or sensitive questions are included. |
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