Page 246 - DCAP304_DCAP515_SOFTWARE_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Software Project Management

Notes Items of the form: The following items are mandatory for schedules and questionnaires:
1. The name of the organization collecting the data should appear at the top of front -page.
The name of the sponsor, of the study, if any should also be shown.

2. The title of the study should appear in large print next to the name of the organization on
the first page. Below this title, the title of the tool - e.g., ‘Schedule for consumers; - may be
noted.
3. The confidentialness of the data should be made cleat.
4. A place for writing the date of filling in the form should be provided.
5. A serial number to each copy of the tool may be assigned.

6. The pages of the instrument should be numbered.
Instructions: In the face sheet below the title of the questionnaire, a brief statement of the
objective of the study, the confidentialness of the data, and instructions relating to answering
the questions may be provided.
Pre-coding: Items in the tool should be pre-coded so as to facilitate transcription of data.
Sectionalisation: There should be a separate section for each topical area.

Spacing: For each open-ended question, an adequate space should be provided for answer.
There should, indeed more space than seems necessary, for some interviewers/respondents
may write in a large script for legibility. Moreover, liberal spacing is a stimulus for the
questionnaire respondent to write more fully. Even short-answer questions should be spaced,
so that the interviewer/respondent will not easily confuse the line, from which he is reading.
Paper: The paper used for mimeographing/printing should be of good quality.
Printing: Mailed questionnaire should necessarily be printed in order to make it attractive and
to minimise the postal expenditure.
Margins: One inch margin on the left side of the sheet and one-half inch margin on other sides
may be provided. If the instrument is to be bound, left-side margin should conform to the type
of binding used.
Indentation: This is required for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. If the respondent’s answer is ‘yes’, then
a series of questions is offered. If the answer is ‘no’ a different series of questions is offered.
Note of Thanks: A final note or comment of thanks for the cooperation of the respondent should
be included at the end of the instrument.

!
Caution Question designing remains primarily a matter of common sense and experience
and of avoiding known pitfalls, as there arc no hard and fast rules relating to it. Hence
alternative versions of questions must be rigorously tested in pre-tests. Test-revision-
retests play a crucial role in questionnaire construction.

12.2.3 Measurement Scales and Indices

Scales are devised for measuring variables in social science research. During the past few decades
thousands of scales have been designed by researchers in sociology, psychology, education,
psychiatry, ethics, behavioural science, economics, administration and other fields.

240 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY