Data Collection Instrument 

Selecting an existing survey questionnaire for your research project

Rather than create their own, research students may adopt survey questionnaires from experts within their field. This is often done when research students will measure variables for which reliable, academic peer reviewed scales are already available from reputable sources. (A 'scale' is a collection of 'items' or questions that measure a single construct).

The following checklist provides a basic guideline for determining whether a scale is suitable.


- The data collection instrument comes from reputable sources like from peer-reviewed academic journals

- The data collection instrument is suitable for your sample type. For instance, is the educational level of your respondents likely to make a particular survey instrument seem too difficult or intellectually insulting?

- As a research student, you can access easy-to-understand instructions about the computation methods for the scales. This collection of instructions is often referred to as a 'scale manual'. As an example, instructions are available either within the document or from the author on how to recode variables and total up scales of questions

- It may be possible to find results of the instrument from samples that are comparable to yours. This can make comparisons and or contrasts with your results possible during your write up.

- The data collection instrument provides clear instructions for respondents

- There are contact details of the author of the survey questionnaire or other representatives. This allows you to make requests if any of the items above are not immediately available. However, note that, while these details are not always very clearly spelt out in ways that students can immediately recognise, they may be attainable through your careful interpretation of material that is already available to you. You should therefore check thoroughly before contacting authors.

Downloadable samples of survey questionnaires

To download a sample of a survey questionnaire that satisfies the checklist above, click either the icon or 'Download File' link.


  • The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) by Sheldon Cohen is an example of a survey questionnaire that students and their advisors can generally appreciate. 
perceived_stress_scale_survey_sample.pdf
File Size: 79 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Data Analysis

Choose the right kind of analysis to effectively answer your research question.

If you are using the (hypothetico) deductive approach, the literature review should be the theoretical framework on which your data collection instrument and statistical analyses will be directly based. To do otherwise will be like putting the cart before the 'research' horse. Get help as early as possible to avoid common student research mistakes. Otherwise, simply ask whether a research consultant or tutor can help you to interpret and report the findings in a meaningful way.

Findings

The results of your (statistical and or qualitative) should answer your research question. However, in order to provide truly meaningful discussions from your analyses, consider the following.

  • Your research question(s) should be very clear
  • Your data and analysis / analyses should very specifically address the research question(s) 
  • You should have an inquisitive investigator. Leave no stones unturned and pre-empt any 'so-what' questions that your readers may raise
  • Write the answer to your research question(s) within the context of the purpose of the study (ie the purpose that you stated in the introduction chapter of your thesis /  dissertation).

Get help from a tutor, coach or consultant to master this important section. 

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