Page 244 - DCAP304_DCAP515_SOFTWARE_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Software Project Management

Notes 4. Data gathering method decision: Which communication mode is most appropriate - face-
to-face interview or mailing? The choice of question structure depends largely on the
communication mode chosen.
5. Instrument drafting: After determining the data required for the study, first, a broad
outline of the instrument may be drafted, listing the various broad categories of data.
Second, the sequence of these groupings must be decided. Third, the questions to be asked
under each group heading must be listed. All conceivable items relevant to the ‘data need’
should be compiled.
6. Evaluation of the draft instrument: In consultation with other qualified persons, the
researcher must rigorously examine each question in the draft instrument.
7. Pre-testing: The revised draft must be pre-tested in order to identify the weaknesses of the
instrument and to make the required further revisions to rectify them.
8. Specification of procedures/instructions: After the instruction is finalised after pre-tests,
the procedures or instructions, relating to its use must be specified.
9. Designing the format: The format should be suited to the needs of the research. The
instrument should be divided into different sections relating to the different aspects of the
problem.

Question Construction

A survey instrument — interview schedules or questionnaire — is useful for collecting various
types of information, viz., (a) factual information - facts about the respondents: sex, age, marital
status, education, religion, caste or social class, income and occupation; and facts about events
and circumstances, (b) psychological information such as attitudes, opinions, beliefs, and
expectations, and (c) behavioural information, like social participation, and so on.
Once the information need is determined as explained in the previous topic, we can begin
question construction. This involves four major decision areas. They are: (a) question relevance
and content, (b) question wording, (c) response form, and (d) question order or sequence.

Question Relevance and Content

My question to be included in the instrument should pass certain tests. Is it relevant to the
research objectives? Can it yield significant information for answering an investigative question?
If not, it should note be included in the instrument.

Question Wording

This is a difficult task. The function of a question in a schedule/questionnaire is to elicit particular
information without distortion. “Questioning people”, says Oppenheim, “is more like trying to
catch a particular elusive fish, by hopefully casting different kinds of bait at different depths,
without knowing what goes on beneath the surface.” As the meaning of words differs from
person to person, the question designer should choose words which have the following
characteristics:
a. Shared vocabulary
b. Uniformity of meaning
c. Exactness

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