Write a note on The Questionnaire Method followed in Research Methodology

Introduction and the meaning
This method acts as a great source or a facility for the collection of the data from the diverse and scattered group of people. A questionnaire consists of a variety of the questions printed or typed in a definite order on a form – which are mailed further to the respondents. The respondent has to answer these questions on his own.

The main function or the objective of the questionnaire is to collect data from the respondents, who are generally scattered in a vast diverse area.

This method also helps in the collection of reliable and dependable data.

According to Bogardus, “a questionnaire is a list of the questions sent to a number of persons to answer. It secures the standardized results that can be tabulated and also treated statistically.”

Advantages of the Questionnaire
1. Requires less skill.
2. Less training is needed.
3. Cheaper in nature.
4. Also impersonal in nature.
5. Pressure is less.
6. Anonymity.

Disadvantages of the Questionnaire
1. Returns are low if compared to the other methods used for the collection of the data.
2. Response is also less.
3. Less flexible in working.
4. Occurrence of errors.
5. Less reliable.
6. Sometimes answers obtained can be wrong.
7. Not efficient in the depth – problems.