Final answer:
The 'fixed response' format in survey questionnaires is preferred because it simplifies data analysis and reduces response bias, thus providing a reliable method for quantitative data collection and comparison.
Step-by-step explanation:
The typical format of a survey questionnaire is 'fixed response' because it simplifies data analysis. This format includes closed-ended questions, such as yes-or-no or multiple-choice options, which enable researchers to collect quantitative data that can be easily counted and statistically analyzed.
While open-ended questions provide qualitative data that are subjective and offer depth, they are harder to organize and tabulate. The fixed response format is preferred in surveys because it allows for a standardized method of data collection that can be easily compared and reduces the potential for response bias, leading to more accurate results.
In survey research, questions must be designed to avoid measurement errors, which can be caused by question wording, interviewer bias, and response bias. Alterations in question-wording, according to studies, can change how people respond to surveys, impacting the validity of the survey results. Therefore, the fixed response format in questionnaires limits the variability of responses and provides a more reliable data set for researchers to analyze.