Structured questionnaires are like surveys that researchers use to collect information from people in psychology and social science (Oddson, 2019). Participants can answer questions by writing down their answers or having someone else do it for them. The questions are usually the same for everyone, so researchers can compare the answers and describe the data. The questions often have the same content repeated in different ways to make sure the answers are accurate. The questionnaire may have answer choices like Yes/No or 1-7 scales. Questionnaires need to be designed well and tested to make sure they work correctly (Oddson, 2019).
However, there are some things to keep in mind when using questionnaires. Participants need to understand the questions and how to answer them (Oddson, 2019). There may be differences in how people interpret the questions and answers, but researchers usually don’t check for these differences. Also, people may try to answer questions in a way that makes them look good, which can make the results less accurate. So, while questionnaires are a useful tool for collecting data, they need to be used carefully and with other research methods to get the best results (Oddson, 2019).
Oddson, B. (2019). In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts. Academic Press.
