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Closed-Ended Questions |
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Name: Dichotomous Description: Question offering two choices Example: Did you watch television at all yesterday? Yes / No Name: Multiple Description: Question offering three or more choices Example: Which of these shops do you prefer? Next / River Island / Gap Top Shop/ Top Man Name: Likert scale Description: Statement with which respondent shows the amount of agreement / disagreement Example: Assessment by course-work is easier than assessment by examination Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Name: Semantic differential Description: Scale is inscribed between two bipolar words and respondent selects the point that most represents the direction and intensity of his / her feelings Example: The degree I am taking is............. Interesting :_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____: Boring Useful :_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____: Useless Easy :_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____:_____: Difficult Name: Rank order Description: Respondent is asked to rate or rank each option that applies. This allows the researcher to obtain information on relative preferences, importance etc. Long lists should be avoided (respondents generally find it difficult to rank more than 5 items) Example: Please indicate, in rank order, your preferred car manufacturer, putting 1 next to your favourite through to 5 for your least favourite. Ford Vauxhall Toyota VW Porche Name: Numeric Description: Respondent specifies a particular value (can include decimal places) Example: How far (to the nearest kilometre) did you travel today to reach work? ________km |
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Advantages of Closed-Ended QuestionsQuick to answerEasy to code No difference between articulate and inarticulate respondents Disadvantages of Closed-Ended QuestionsCan draw misleading conclusions because of limited range of optionsResearcher / interviewer cannot deal with qualifications to responses e.g. "Yes, but….." or "It depends" where only Yes/No are given as options |
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