Problems a Writer Might Face in Conducting Research on Cockney Dialect of London using Questionnaires - Essay Example

?Research Methods in Linguistics (Questionnaires) March 2, Problems a Might face in Conducting Research on Cockney Dialect of London using Questionnaires Creating works on linguistics presents an unusual challenge, as it requires one-to-one interactions with the community under study. A second challenge comes in the nature of quantifying some data element, which exhibit more qualitative elements that quantitative elements. Therefore, writers find the use of research methods indispensable when undertaking any writing project. The use of statistical methods to conduct research helps in making the final work a reliable and accurate account on the subject area the writing undertaking covers. In linguistic research, the writing must reflect factual accuracy to the highest possible level. For instance, in the research of the Cockney dialect in London, an efficient method is necessary to unveil the overriding elements of the special linguistic elements of London residents. The study of linguistics requires qualitative research methods rather than quantitative methods. Consequently, the use of qualitative research methods is of primary importance. With the use of questionnaires, qualitative data is collectable on unique subjects that present special challenges to other forms of research methodologies. Questionnaire research is a proven and reliable method in social research of this nature, and is the method this essay explores in trying to decipher possible problems the method might present to a writer doing research on Cockney in London. Introduction Questionnaires are some of the most hardy research tools in use for collection of information from respondents. Principally a questionnaire consists of a number of questions, which probe the chosen sources of information for a final and comprehensive analysis. The questionnaire is a Sir Francis Galton’s invention (Mellenbergh, 212). Cockney is a unique accent of the English language common in residents of East London. Many analysts argue that the term Cockney bears both geographical and linguistic implications. This study emphasizes on Cockney in its linguistic identity (the English spoken by residents of the geographical region of East London). Cockney as a cultural and linguistic identity articulates a long and rich history. In addition, the subject arouses controversies and debates as to its authenticity. Over time, the definition of who constitutes a Cockney resident and who does not is now debatable. Consequently, numerous researches with the sole purpose to unravel the mystery surrounding the ancient and yet still vivid etymological group are available. Using questionnaires in data collection, this report seeks to identify some of the possible problems that a researcher might face in the course of conducting research on the Cockney language among East Londoners. Designing a Questionnaire The intimate understanding as to the nature of the research subject underlies the secret to formulating an effective questionnaire. The design of the questions in the questionnaires varies according to the parameters under measurement (University Sheffield, 1). For instance, some questionnaires measure separate variables, for example personal preferences, social behaviors or factual realities. Other kinds of questionnaires measure scale or index in a topical area of study, for instance observable traits, social attitudes, or indices on social issues and categories. For questionnaires to deliver optimum results, their design, and flow of the questions must exhibit a logical flow and a seamless interconnectedness. For closed-ended questions, it is imperative to ensure that the answers are exhaustive and unambiguous. Types of Questionnaires There are four types of questionnaires: structured non-disguised questionnaire, structured disguised questionnaire, non-structured non-disguised questionnaires, and non-structured disguised questionnaires (University Sheffield, 1). In non-disguised questionnaires, the respondent knows beforehand the purpose of the study, unlike in the disguised questionnaire. Consequently, in the structured questionnaires, the questions in the questionnaire follow a certain order. Types of Questions in Closed-Ended Questionnaires Closed-ended questionnaires can assume four forms: dichotomous, nominal-polytomous, ordinal-polytomous, and bounded or continuous questions (Mellenbergh, 213). A dichotomous closed-ended questionnaire gives the respondent two options, for instance, yes or no. A nominal-polytomous question gives the respondent the option of more than two options that do not follow a certain order. Ordinal-polytomous closed-ended questions differ from nominal-polytomous questions in that they ascribe to a particular order. Bounded questions on the other hand present the respondent with a continuous scale. Optimizing Questionnaire Design The complete and comprehensive design of a questionnaire requires delicate attention and assessment. The particular elements require thoughtful resolution so that the questionnaires effectively deliver on their mandate in collecting accurate and reliable information on the topic of study. For instance, there is a necessity to have prior background information on the target study population so that the questions formulated are comprehensible to all the respondents, and do not mean different things to different people. Another option would be to consider the merging of open and closed questions in the same questionnaire with regard to the issues each question handles. The questions should also be easy to understand for the respondent, and each should ask one issue at a time to avoid ambiguity in the answers given. Finally, the questionnaire should have good grammar, positive statements, leading questions, and precision as to the aspect each question covers. Use of Questionnaires in Research The ways in which a researcher can use a questionnaire in the field of linguistics to collect data vary widely. Depending on the particular factors in play during the study, the researcher can decide the most effective administration method for the questionnaires. The questionnaire can help in collecting research information in three major ways. The questionnaire administration can be on a face-to-face basis, where the interviewer administers the questionnaires orally to the respondent and records information on his/her own. Another way to administer a questionnaire is by presenting the respondent with a pencil and paper with the research questions. The respondent then fills the questionnaire and submits it back to the researcher. With the advances in technology and the greater accessibility of networks to many people, computerized questionnaires constitutes one of the ways in which a prospective researcher can administer questionnaires. The administration of questionnaires appears suspicious to some people. The social barriers are eliminable through a number of standard questionnaire administration procedures. The importance of proper introduction of the research cannot be overemphasized. The respondents need to understand the purpose of administering the questionnaire, the process of completing the questionnaire questions and the intended usage of the information collected in the data (Cohen et al, 246). In addition, the respondents need assurance that the information will not be traceable to them individually, and that its use will be confidential and only for the outlined purpose. To demonstrate consistency with these claims, the questionnaires should stave off asking questions that require the divulging of personal information of the respondents, as their purpose may appear suspect. Advantages of Questionnaires Questionnaires, despite their challenges, also carry numerous benefits for the researchers. For instance, questionnaires are considerably cheaper in relation to other methods of research. In most cases, research tends to be greatly constrained by budget limits, and the choice of cheaper methods of data collection becomes the only viable choices. Questionnaires cheaper than for instance direct interviews (Mellenbergh, 212), which incur travel expenses that may result in unsustainable cost overruns for the research. In addition, questionnaires give the researcher the option of collecting standardized responses, which ease considerably the process of compiling the results of the study (Bizhekp24, 1). With some methods, the option to attain standard answers becomes a problem, as the respondent cannot be controlled as to the responses they give, for instance with direct interviews. Questionnaires are especially useful in qualitative research, as they can be structured to identify trends and patterns, for instance in cultural and social outlooks on aspects like the definition of Cockney people. In addition, questionnaires are applicable on a large scale, and offer anonymity on respondents with whom privacy would be a barrier, hence enhancing honesty, and openness. Questionnaires in research of Cockney Dialect in London Cockney dialect of London is a subject of much speculation and debate, which makes the use of questionnaires, especially open-ended questionnaire the most effective way to collect qualitative data relating to the subject. Some of the information on Cockney is quite standard, for instance, Cockney has a distinctive accent, and dates back to beyond the medieval ages (Wright, 2). The slang is rich in elements from other languages, and the language has spread beyond the traditional boundaries associated with the language, for instance Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire (Powel, 15). In addition, over the years, the language has undergone several transformations, according to a BBC (2010) study that has made recordings of the language over time. Secondary sources and common knowledge can concur that one of the most identifiable aspects of the Cockney accent is the rhyming slang, although its use is occasional. The latter claim is a debatable, and requires research through questionnaires. Some people believe that with the rise in television, the use in the use of Cockney language has had a boost through the television popularity. Some people differ in this opinion, and a questionnaire question probing this aspect can effectively settle this disagreement. In the year 2010, controversial claims arose in the news that Cockney accent would disappear in 30 years’ time (BBC, 1). According to the allegations, Cockney will interweave with other mainstream English languages. Contrasting opinions allege that the language may grow over the years as the use of the language attain more standardization as its salient features get incorporation into the standard English language. The arguments and counterarguments require further probing to get a general feeling about the controversial allegations. Questions to put in the Questionnaire The questions and the order in which questions appear in the questionnaire largely affect the effectiveness of the overall research undertaking. For instance, if the questionnaire consists of separate parts, the most important questions should come first. This way, in case the respondent fails to answer parts of the questionnaire, he/she will have filled in the most important questions. The questions should also seem non-threatening, non-invasive to the respondent’s privacy, and unbiased. Generally, the questions should move from general topics to the more specific topics (Loughborough University, 3). In a similar sequence, the questions in the questionnaire should start from the closed-ended questions to the open-ended questions. Sensitive questions, such as those touching on personal beliefs are better off left for the end of the study. In addition, the sensitive questions may pose a challenge to some respondents, and therefore the use of illustrations can help break the inhibitions and put the prospective answer in context, so that wrong answers are not given. Examples of questions that would be in a questionnaire probing into the Cockney language would be as follows: How would you define Cockney language? Are you a native Cockney speaker? How is Cockney different from other English dialects? Do you feel that Cockney is growing in popularity? Why? Do you think Cockney dialect is drowning into other English accents? How do people view Cockney dialect in formal settings? What stereotypes do people attach to the Cockney language? How do you feel about the claims that Cockney was not worth national recognition? Possible Problems in the use of Questionnaires When a research that choses questionnaires as a method of collecting data from respondents, he/she faces problems inherent in the process of administering questionnaires. For instance, in an effort to collect more precise answers from respondents, a research usually choses the option to create closed questionnaires. Closed questionnaires give the respondent little leeway to voice their subjective opinions on the issue, and sometimes the questionnaire may lack the option the respondent favors. Because of a seeming exclusion, the respondent usually harbors frustration (Mellenbergh, 212), which may result in incompletely filled questionnaires, a problem that results in weaker research results. In the oral surveys, it is sometimes imperative to administer the questionnaires through telephone. A big limitation is that the authenticity of the responses is in significant jeopardy, as well as limitation to the information the respondent can answer. Consequently, telephone administration of questionnaires may take time in planning and finding mutually convenient time for both the respondent and the interviewer. A research on the linguistic aspects of the Cockney linguistic group in London would need large amounts of data, and administration of large amounts of questionnaires. Processing the questionnaires to make conclusions can be highly taxing, especially in cases of open-ended questions where respondents give huge amounts of information (Milne, 1). Getting the respondents to fill in the questionnaires can be a challenge from the onset. Considerable amount of motivation is necessary to make respondents cooperative, and even greater effort may be necessary to make them offer honest answers. The problem is especially prominent in cases where the subject is controversial or touches on personal aspects of the respondent. Sometimes respondents respond to questions differently depending on variations in the understanding of the true meaning of the questions in the questionnaires. Despite all the efforts to eliminate possible ambiguities, some of the questions may still pose conflicts in their semantic perceptions by the respondents. A research topic on linguistic aspects of the Cockney community in London requires a large set of questions. The detailed questionnaire, seeking to answer many of these questions, is highly likely to be quite long (Greener, 68). The questionnaire, though comprehensive, can be lengthy and off-putting to the respondent. Consequently, many respondents may fail to answer some of the questions in the questionnaires or give inadequately detailed answers. Processing questionnaires to arrive at the results can be a daunting and error prone process. The interpretation of answers and putting them in a standard format can be especially challenging, especially for open-ended questions. However, the use of statistical analysis packages such as SPSS and MATLAB can help in easier processing of the data, but even then, considerable level of experience with the computing softwares is necessary to properly analyze the data and attain the correct results. Modern forms of administering questionnaires pose a new set of challenges to the process of administering questionnaires. For instance, the use of email questionnaires, though quick and cheap to send to many people, risks deletion as ‘spam’, present download challenges, and disallow anonymity in the replies for those respondents who would prefer to withhold personal information (Loughborough, 1). Recommendations Some of the possible problems a writer faces in using questionnaires for research can be mitigate or eliminated altogether through a number of steps. For instance, to avoid scenarios where the respondents find answering the questionnaire a long and challenging task, the use of prior testing is necessary to ensure the respondents can comprehend and answer the questions adequately. More conventional and familiar formats are imperative for the successful administration of questionnaires. Complex formats are prohibitive to the respondents, and easily go unanswered, or incorrectly answered. Question design can affect largely the yield of useful data in the study. For instance, it is important that the questionnaire’s structure should present as easy way to answer the question. Generally, the questions should begin from the hardest to the easiest, that way; the respondent can have an easier time answering and understanding the logical flow of the questions. In addition, the logic and flow of questions makes it easier for the researcher to design the questionnaires so the no areas of discussion go unanalyzed. For qualitative data, open-ended questions give more detail than closed-ended question. Closed-ended questions are more effective when collecting quantitative data. Therefore, for a subject like study of linguistics, a subject that is not easily quantifiable through numerical figures, the research should have a bend on open-ended questions, which offer more qualitative data, as it depends largely on subjective opinions of the respondents. Conclusion The collection of data on the Cockney accent is a complex mission. Many issues surrounding the Cockney accent assume a qualitative nature, which makes data collections methods on the same quite restrictive. Questionnaires, and principally those with open-ended questions, offer the best data collection method for a writer conducting a research on the Cockney accent in London. Despite the obvious advantages of using questionnaires for the study, the method of data collection presents a number of challenges to the researcher. The problems range from those inherent in the use of the techniques itself to those thee writer might experience with the study population. Some of the problems are easily avertible through prior planning and pilot runs of the questionnaires beforehand, others are abatable through a set of standard procedures of creating good questionnaires while others offer few options for redress. Works Cited BBC. Cockney to disappear from London within 30 years. BBC. 2010. Web March 2, 2012 from Bizhelp24. Structuring your Questionnaire-What questions to ask. Bizhelp24.com. 2009. Web March 2, 2012 Cohen, L, Manion, L, and Morrison, K. Research Methods in Education. Routledge. 2000. Pp. 245-266. Print. Greener, S. Business Research Methods. Ventus Publishing ApS. 2008. pp. 66-72. Print. Loughborough University. Questionnaire Design. Loughborough University. 2011. Pp. 1-4. Web March 2, 2012 Mellenbergh, G. Tests, and Questionnaires: Construction and administration. Johannes van Kessel Publishing. 2008. Pp. 211-236. Print. Milne, J. Questionnaires: Advantages and Disadvantages. Aberdeen University. 1999. Web March 2, 2012 Powel, R. British Accents: Cockney, RP, Estuary English. 2011. P. 15. Print. University of Sheffield. Questionnaires. University of Sheffield. 2011. Web March 2, 2012 Wright, P. Cockney Dialect and Slang. Batsford Ltd. 1981. Print. Read More