The Effect of Using Web-Based Questionnaires - Essay Example

INТRОDUСТIОN ТО ЕDUСАТIОNАL АND SОСIАL RЕSЕАRСН

Article 4:

Denscombe, M. (2006). Web-Based Questionnaires and the Mode Effect: An Evaluation Based on Completion Rates and Data Contents of Near-Identical Questionnaires Delivered in Different Modes. Social Science Computer Review, Vol. 24, No.1, pp. 246-254.

Denscombe (2006) has focused on analyzing whether people provide varied information based on the mode of questionnaire delivery. According to the author, it is essential to assess if the mode of questionnaire delivery influences the type of information participants give and in so doing influencing the quality of data collected. The main goal of this comparative critique is to analyze the mode effect of using web based questionnaires compared to using paper based questionnaires, with the aim of establishing, which of the two modes of questionnaire delivery is the most suitable to use in my study, which seeks to analyze the effects of misbehavior of students on the performance of teachers in the classroom.

Denscombe (2006) highlights that the increased use of web based questionnaires by researchers have been linked to numerous benefits of this mode of delivery namely their cost effectiveness, their ability to cover large geographical areas and population samples and the fact that they are fast to administer and to collect data from. Nevertheless, the author emphasizes the need to assess the quality of data generated using both paper based and web based questionnaires by analyzing the impact they have on the content of information given by participants. The findings of the study are important to my study because, the data in my study shall be collected using both modes of questionnaire delivery namely paper based and web based questionnaire delivery modes. From Denscombe, (2006), I will decide which is the most effective, reliable and accurate mode (s) of questionnaire delivery to use in collecting the required data for my study. Previous research such as McCabe (2004) and Lozar & Vehovar (2002) on the impact of mode of questionnaire delivery on the type of information participants give show that there is insignificant mode effect between the type of information collected using paper based and web based modes of questionnaire delivery. The implications of these findings in my study is that I can successfully obtain quality, accurate and reliable information from the selected population sample regardless of the mode of questionnaire delivery I use.

Descombe is keen to follow ethical procedures to ensure that the research process meets the standards of an ethically accountable study. Other than ensuring a research design that permits near identical participants to respond to near identical questionnaires, Denscombe is keen to assure the participants in writing and verbatim that they were not obligated to complete the questionnaires, all information they could give would be treated with utmost confidence and the responses would remain anonymous. This aligns with discussions made by Nosek, Banjani & Greenwald, (2002) about carrying out ethical research. In addition, Denscombe made it known who was carrying out the research, what the purposes of the findings were and where the general findings from the research could be accessed at by the public. Such ethical considerations impact greatly on my study. This is because, I will have to seek approval from the relevant research boards, obtain signed consent forms from the participants and I will have to adhere to ethical considerations such as ensuring confidentiality of information generated by all the teachers and students involved, keeping the respondents anonymous and using the collected data for the research purposes it was intended for in line with suggestions made by Nosek, Banjani & Greenwald, (2002).

Descombe analyzes two key elements in establishing the mode effect of paper based and web based, which are completion rates and substantive content of quantitative data collected. According to their findings, web based mode did better on the former and had no distinct difference in the latter. The implications of this in my study is that the completion rates and substantive content of quantitative data will greatly influence the results of my study and as such, web based mode of questionnaire delivery will be better in generating more quality information, which will help analyze how the misbehavior of students affects the teacher’s performance in the classroom.

The element of using two different mode of questionnaire delivery to collect data as highlighted by Denscombe aligns with the use of mixed methodology approach adopted by Admiraal and Wubbels’ (2005) to compare two research approaches in studying reflective practice in two different modes of tele-guidance of school practicum. Although the study by Admiraal and Wubbels’ (2005) generated different analyses and results, the study illuminates the benefits of using different methodologies to examine a phenomenon in what Gorard and Taylor describes as convergence, where a researcher uses mixed methodologies. This is important to my study, which seeks to analyze how the misbehavior of students can affect the performance of teachers in the classroom.

The study is expected to not only apply different research paradigms namely positivist and interpretivist paradigms as suggested by Gorard and Taylor, but also it hopes to use both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to collect data as supported by Flemming, (2007) and Gorard and Taylor (2004). In addition, the study will apply different methods of calculating the changes of effects of student’s misbehavior on students as suggested by Gorad (1999). Based on the study by Denscombe (2006), this research seeks to use both paper based and web based modes of questionnaire delivery.

According to Gorard and Taylor (2004) as supported by Admiraal and Wubbels’ (2005) and Utrecht and Trondheim, using multiple methodologies and even integrating different research paradigms that have often been point of debate, allows the researcher to capitalize on the advantage and benefits of each and in so doing, enriching the research portrait and enhance understanding of reality since the researcher is given the opportunity to examine a phenomenon using different lenses.

It is important to mention that the use of mixed methodologies and techniques in my study is not meant to evade the controversies that surround the different paradigms, methodology and techniques, instead, the researcher is much keen on ensuring the research objectives are effectively and efficiently attained and more importantly ensuring that the findings contribute to present studies about the subject topic under study. In addition, using mixed methodologies and elements ensures that the study is easily accepted by both sides of the debate and ensure that it is not the research process of the study that is being debated but rather, the implications of the research findings in terms of finding evidence based strategies of coping with student’s misbehavior and in so doing enhancing teacher’s performance in the classroom.