Question

A questionnaire consists of a series of questions relating to controls normally required to prevent or detect errors and fraud that may occur for each type of transaction. Which of the following is not an advantage of a questionnaire?

1) A questionnaire provides a framework that minimizes the possibility of overlooking aspects of internal control.
2) A questionnaire can be easily completed.
3) A questionnaire is flexible in design and application.
4) The completed questionnaire provides documentation that the internal auditor became familiar with internal control.

Answer 1

While questionnaires have several advantages, such as minimizing oversight, ease of completion, and providing documentation, the claim of flexibility may not be entirely true in all circumstances. The design and use of questionnaires must be carefully managed to ensure the collection of valuable data, both quantitative and qualitative.

Step-by-step explanation:

Advantages of a Questionnaire

When it comes to questionnaires, particularly those focused on internal controls and auditing procedures, there are several advantages:

• Minimizes the possibility of overlooking aspects of internal control: By providing a structured framework, it ensures that all relevant areas are considered.
• Easy to complete: The closed-ended questions in a questionnaire simplify the response process, making them straightforward to fill out.
• Flexibility in design and application: Questionnaires can be designed to accommodate a range of topics and can be administered in various ways to suit the research needs.
• The completed questionnaire serves as documentation that the internal auditor has acquainted themselves with the entity's internal control system.

However, not all of these points are necessarily advantages. Flexibility in design and application can be limited by the structure of standardized questionnaires, particularly in the context of internal controls where specific and detailed answers may be required. Additionally, the ease of completion might sometimes compromise the depth and richness of information that can be obtained compared to other more qualitative methods.

From a research perspective, questionnaires aid in collecting quantitative and qualitative data, but the design of the questionnaire can significantly impact the responses received. Closed-ended questions facilitate quantitative data collection, which is easy to analyze statistically, while open-ended questions allow for the gathering of qualitative data, providing rich, diverse perspectives but challenging to tabulate.

Considering all these aspects, it's clear that while questionnaires are a useful tool in research and auditing, their design and application need careful consideration to ensure they provide the intended benefits.