Question

R ecords are used to:

a. obtain respondents' cooperation and willingness to participate in a research
b. basic information about an interviewer's performance
c. that data are collected from the correct respondents by limiting respondents to a predefined
d. the respondents included in a study are representative of the defined target
e. double-barreled questions that can be used in an unstructured way.

Answer 1

In social research, surveys and questionnaires are key instruments for collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Surveys, often featuring closed questions like yes-or-no and multiple-choice, allow for straightforward tabulation of quantitative data while interviews provide more detailed qualitative data. Ethical considerations such as informed consent and transparency are essential in survey methodology.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding the Role of Research Instruments in Data Collection

In social studies research, creating potent surveys and questionnaires is critical for collecting quantitative and qualitative data effectively. A researcher must develop a detailed plan to ask questions and record responses after selecting subjects. This often involves employing a standardized instrument, usually a questionnaire, enabling the comparison of data across a wide spectrum of respondents. Quantitative data, collected in numerical form, is particularly useful because it can be easily tabulated and statistically analyzed, thus providing a clear picture of the research outcomes based on the number of specific replies. However, qualitative insights are also critical in understanding the 'why' behind the statistics, and thus interviews and open-ended questions play a significant role. For sensitive topics, anonymity through written surveys is often preferred to obtain honest responses, while interviews might provide in-depth information from respondents. Safety and ethical protocols, including informed consent and transparency, are crucial elements in conducting research that respects participant rights and ensures data integrity.

Surveys have their complexities, starting from question design to the distribution of the survey, including whether recordings or notes will be archived or destroyed at the end of the project, and are a structured interview mechanism that collects reliable data across a spectrum of respondents. Surveys can include a series of closed-ended questions for respondents to answer quickly, while interviews permit open-ended dialogue for more nuanced information.