Open-ended and close-ended questions can both be included in questionnaires, but they serve different purposes.
Open-ended questions have no set response: the respondent can respond in their own words. This freedom may encourage more detailed or unpredicted responses. However, responses to open-ended questions are often more time-consuming and difficult to analyze.
Close-ended questions have set response options. They can be answered quickly but limit the detail the respondent is able to provide. Types of close-ended questions include multiple-choice questions, rating scales, and Likert scales.
Continue reading: What’s the difference between open-ended and close-ended questions?
A rating scale is a type of multiple-choice question often included in a questionnaire. Rating scales include ordered response options that range from low to high (unipolar) or negative to positive (dichotomous). Rating scales are often used to assess frequency, satisfaction, or other subjective experiences.
A Likert scale is a special type of rating scale that is used to assess a person’s level of agreement with a series of statements about a topic.
Continue reading: What is a rating scale?
Yes—the Likert scale, which is often included in questionnaires, is an example of an ordinal measurement.
Ordinal data have a clear order (items can be logically sorted), but the distance between items is not uniform nor quantifiable.
A Likert scale asks someone to rate how much they agree with a series of statements. Response options typically include “Strongly disagree,” “Disagree,” “Neutral,” “Agree,” and “Strongly agree.”
Because these options have a clear rank (we can easily and objectively order them) but unclear spacing (i.e., the distance between “Disagree” and “Neutral” isn’t necessarily the same as the distance between “Neutral” and “Agree”), a Likert scale is considered an ordinal measurement.
Note: For analysis, Likert scale data are sometimes converted to numbers and treated as integer data. This process allows the research to use certain analysis techniques. It’s always important to carefully consider and provide justification for any analyses you decide to conduct.
Continue reading: Is a Likert scale ordinal?
People are highly sensitive to question order when filling out questionnaires. Question-order bias refers to how earlier questions may influence how someone responds to later questions (this is sometimes called “priming”).
For example, when people are first asked to rate their general life satisfaction and then asked about relationship satisfaction, they respond more positively than when these questions are reversed.
Continue reading: What is question-order bias?
The terms survey and questionnaire are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
A survey is a research method that involves collecting a large amount of information about a topic.
A questionnaire is a tool used to collect data. It comprises a series of questions that someone answers. A questionnaire may be used to collect data when a researcher is conducting a survey.
Continue reading: What’s the difference between a survey and a questionnaire?
Descriptive research is a research method that aims to uncover the characteristics of a population or phenomenon. Research questions can be addressed using techniques like surveys and observation.
Examples of descriptive research questions include the following:
- What percentage of people in a community experience food insecurity?
- What is the most popular social media platform for people under the age of 25?
- How many cars does the average American family own?
Descriptive research can answer what, where, when, and how questions but not why questions. Both quantitative and qualitative methods can be used for descriptive research.
Continue reading: What are descriptive research methods?
Most research methods in psychology are quantitative: numerical data are used to address a research question. Quantitative approaches include the following:
Some psychology research is qualitative (i.e., uses nonnumerical data to explore a research question). Qualitative research approaches include the following:
- Interviews and focus groups
- Case studies
- Survey research
- Observational research
Mixed-methods research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Continue reading: What are common research methods in psychology?
Research methods are the steps you follow when conducting research. A methods section should describe the type of research you’re conducting, sampling techniques, data collection methods, and data analysis.
Research methodology instead focuses on the theory behind your research methods and why you chose them to address your research question.
Though people sometimes use the terms method and methodology interchangeably, they are not the same. Methods describe how you conduct your research, and methodology describes why you chose these methods.
Continue reading: In research, what is the difference between methods vs methodology?
Case studies have historically been used in psychology to understand rare conditions. For example, Phineas Gage was a railroad worker who had an iron rod driven through his head in an accident and miraculously survived. However, this accident drastically altered his personality and behavior for the remaining 12 years of his life.
Detailed studies of Phineas Gage helped scientists realize that different areas of the brain have specific functions. This famous case study is an example of how studying one individual in detail can provide insights that drive the formation of broader theories.
Continue reading: What is a case study example in psychology?
Though case studies can be classified in many ways, the most common types are intrinsic, instrumental, and collective case studies.
Intrinsic case studies focus on a specific subject (i.e., case). The point of such studies is to learn more about this specific subject rather than to generalize findings.
Instrumental case studies also focus on a single subject, but the intent is to generalize findings to a broader population.
Collective case studies have the same purpose as instrumental case studies—to use findings to increase one’s understanding of a broader topic—but they include multiple cases.
Continue reading: What are the types of case studies?
