Final answer:
The preliminary questionnaire by the internal auditing team utilizes rating scales to collect qualitative data on perceived problems. The use of rating scales is harder to tabulate as it is subjective but provides a breadth of opinions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The internal auditing team's preliminary questionnaire that offers response choices such as 'Probably not a problem', 'Possibly a problem', and 'Probably a problem' represents the use of rating scales. Rating scales are a type of research tool that allows respondents to evaluate a particular issue or aspect by selecting from a set of predefined categories. The use of rating scales is common in areas such as market research, psychology, and customer feedback. They help collect qualitative data, which is subjective and based on personal opinions or observations. This type of data is harder to organize, as it can result in a wide range of opinions and cannot be easily quantified. In this case, the questionnaire allows the internal auditing team to gauge the perceived severity of problems within the organization.
To improve the survey methodology and ensure that it is more effective, the research team might consider observer bias and establish clear criteria for classifying responses. Additionally, multiple observers or auditors could review the responses to assess inter-rater reliability. These improvements could enhance the credibility of the survey outcomes.