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Statistics — syllabus topic (iii) of 10 · 🎯 PYQs from this topic: 2024 Q73

Part of the full combined notes. · 1 PYQ callout inside.

🔷 TOPIC (iii) — PREPARATION OF QUESTIONNAIRES

Syllabus topic (iii) of 10 · nested inside Topic (ii), because the questionnaire is a primary collection method

Covers: what a questionnaire is · merits and demerits · principles of preparation · construction steps (including the pre-test / pilot survey) · distribution · questionnaire vs schedule 🎯 Asked: 2024 · Q73 — which statements on questionnaire preparation are correct?

1. The Questionnaire

The heart of the survey operation.

A set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers, used for surveys or statistical studies — usually mailed.

Used to obtain: information · feelings · beliefs · perceptions about the research participant. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed data can all be collected through a questionnaire.

Adequacy — use when	Merits	Demerits
Informants are educated	Less expensive	Only for educated respondents
The area of inquiry is wide	Free from the interviewer's influence	Possibility of misunderstanding
Information is supplied regularly	Respondents can take sufficient time to answer	Data received may not be reliable
	Wide coverage	Lack of flexibility
		Less accuracy

2. Principles for Preparing a Questionnaire

🎯 2024 · Q73 — "Which statements about questionnaire preparation are correct?" → Answer: A (a and b)

The TRUE statements: questionnaire design affects validity, reliability and response rate, and a pilot test / pre-test is essential. ⚠️ Any statement saying the pilot survey can be skipped is FALSE — see the construction flow below.

Should be research oriented — the objective must be fulfilled
The research participant should be kept in view
Simple and familiar language should be used
Questions should be clear, easy to understand and free of ambiguity
Avoid leading and loading questions; avoid personal questions
Avoid double-barrelled questions
Avoid double-negative questions
Use mutually exclusive and exhaustive response categories for closed-ended questions
The questionnaire should be properly organised and easy to use
Proper instructions for filling it must be provided

3. Construction of a Questionnaire

graph TD
    S1["==Determine Research objective=="] --> S2["==Type of questionnaire to use=="]
    S2 --> S3["==Determine the content of Individual=="]
    S3 --> S4["==Type of Questions to use=="]
    S4 --> S5["==Determine the wording of questions=="]
    S5 --> S6["==Determining the sequence of Questions=="]
    S6 --> S7["==Determining the length of Questionnaire=="]
    S7 --> S8["==Layout=="]
    S8 --> S9["==Check the Questions=="]
    S9 --> S10["==Pre-test (Pilot survey)=="]
    S10 --> S11["==Revision & Final draft=="]

⭐ Step 10 — the Pre-test (Pilot survey) — is the step the exam asks about. It comes after checking the questions and before the final draft.

4. Questionnaire Distribution

graph LR
    A[Questionnaire distribution] --> B[Printed]
    B --> B1[mailed]
    B --> B2[Fax]

    A --> C[Electronic]
    C --> C1[email]