In a questionnaire, how many answers should be there for simple alternative questions?
Understanding Simple Alternative Questions in a Questionnaire
When designing a questionnaire, different types of questions are used to gather specific information. A common type is the simple alternative question. These questions are designed to get a clear, binary response from the respondent.
What is a Simple Alternative Question?
A simple alternative question presents the respondent with only two possible answer choices. These choices are typically opposite in meaning, offering a clear choice between two alternatives.
- Examples include "Yes or No", "True or False", "Agree or Disagree".
- The purpose is to categorize responses into one of two distinct groups.
Number of Answers for Simple Alternative Questions
By definition, a simple alternative question in a questionnaire must have exactly two possible answers. The term 'alternative' here implies a choice between two options. If there were more than two options, it would be considered a multiple-choice question, not a simple alternative one.
Therefore, for a question structured to offer a simple alternative, such as asking if someone uses a particular service or if they agree with a statement, there must be precisely two predetermined responses provided in the questionnaire for the respondent to choose from.
Let's consider the options provided in the context of a questionnaire:
- Three: This would imply a third option, which is not characteristic of a simple alternative question.
- Two: This perfectly matches the definition of a simple alternative question, which offers a choice between two distinct possibilities.
- No: This is itself a possible answer to a simple alternative question (like "Yes or No"), but it is not the number of answers available.
- Many: This suggests multiple options, which is typical of standard multiple-choice questions or rating scales, but not simple alternative ones in a questionnaire.
Thus, for simple alternative questions used in a questionnaire, the required number of answers is always two, representing the two opposing choices.
Important Questions from Data Collection Instrument
Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R):
Assertion (A) : Actual settings are the direct source of data and the researcher is the key instrument in qualitative research.
Reasons (R) : The purpose underlying qualitative researches is relatively more directed at depiction of reality rather than arriving at context free generalizations.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
The advantages of the structured interview are :
(A) Provides limited choices that reduce the possibility of generalization
(B) Standardises questions
(C) Accuracy is possible to a large extent
(D) Data processing is easy
(E) Misinterpretation is possible due to strict standardisation
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Responses to open-ended questions are
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Debriefing of participants takes place at the beginning of a study.
Statement II: Deception is the practice of giving false information to research participants about some aspect of the study.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Which of the following should be taken into account while preparing a questionnaire?
A. The purpose of research
B. Brevity of questions
C. Avoidance of leading questions
D. Questions that seek detailed information
E. Preference for double‐barrelled questions
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
