Research Methods in Politics 10

1. Research Methods in Politics10 Questionnaires Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

2. Teaching and Learning Objectives 1. to understand the special characteristics of questionnaires and where they are best used 2. to consider how questionnaires should be structured, designed, tested and coded 3. to discuss how questionnaires can best be ‘administered’ 4. to discuss issues of personal safety Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

3. Our researchers with Public Opinion are content That he held the proper opinions for the time of the year; When there was peace, he was for peace; When there was war, he went. W. H. Auden (1940) The Unknown Citizen Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

4. Questionnaires • pre-designed lists of closed questions with pre-designated alternative answers • large representative samples • administered • face-to-face • remotely by telephone • self-administered by mail or internet • designed and coded for computer analysis • declining response rates • access to respondents • motivation • effective questionnaire design Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

5. Access • sample frame • sampling method • random • nth address • random walk • quota sample Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

6. Motivation • appeals to • altruism • public or personal benefits • reciprocity • trust in researcher • approach, manner • reputation of university • ID • authentication Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

7. Effective Questionnaire Design • limited number of questions • short, simple, unambiguous, plain English • no leading questions • don’t knows • no replies • sequence critical: sensitive questions last • classifier questions at end • proxy-indicators • show cards • scaling attitudes • many pilots Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

8. Scaling Attitudes • semantic differential • Likert Scale • Guttman scale • Bogardus social distance scale • scale rating Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

9. Do carry ID carry mobile phone stay is sight of colleagues daylight personal alarm public places notify police Don’t accept invitations harass or hinder people stand in doorways or other private places get involved in arguments Personal Safety Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

10. coding • codes • scoping • generic codes • recording responses Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10

11. Questions for Discussion or Assignments • Pilot the exhibit questionnaire (why are the British so anti-EU? ) on at least two members of the public (not students). What improvements would you suggest and why? • You are asked to test the hypothesis that age and education strongly influence the likelihood of electors voting in general elections. You must use a questionnaire. Identify the sample frame. Devise a quota sample for on-street survey. Design, test and revise a questionnaire of no more than twelve questions. Administer the questionnaire to ten members of the public in the main shopping street. Comment critically on your experiences as a questionnaire writer and questioner • Discuss critically the claim that questionnaires can measure people’s attitudes and beliefs 4. Most of the national opinion polls published in the lead-up to the 1992 UK general election wrongly forecast the outcome. Critically assess the various explanations given. Research Methods in Politics Chapter 10