Characteristics of a Structured Questionnaire:
1. Predetermined Questions: Every participant receives the exact same set of questions from the researcher, ensuring consistency across all responses.
2. Closed-ended Questions: Respondents are provided with a limited number of answer choices for each question. These options can include multiple-choice selections, checkboxes, or rating scales.
3. Standardized Response Format: All responses are recorded in a uniform manner, often through options like "Yes/No," "Agree/Disagree," or various rating levels (e.g., "1 to 5" scales).
4. Closed Response Options: Structured questionnaires do not offer open-ended options for respondents to elaborate or explain their answers.
5. Order and Sequence: The questions are arranged logically and follow a predetermined sequence.
6. Structured Data: The responses obtained through structured questionnaires generate quantitative data, which can be easily analyzed and statistically processed.
7. Objectivity: Since respondents choose from predefined options, structured questionnaires minimize interviewer or researcher bias.
8. Efficient Data Collection: By limiting response options, structured questionnaires enable quicker completion, resulting in time efficiency during data collection.
9. Comparative Analysis: The standardized nature of responses facilitates comparisons and analyses between different respondents' answers.
10. Scalability: Structured questionnaires are suitable for large-scale surveys, where consistent data collection across a large population is essential.
11. Predetermined Coding: Researchers often assign numerical codes to response options in structured questionnaires, aiding data analysis and reducing manual effort during processing.
12. Quality Control: The structured format helps maintain quality control over data collection, ensuring accuracy and reliability in the results.
Structured questionnaires are widely used in various research fields and surveys due to their standardized response formats and ease of analysis. The predefined nature of questions and options makes them suitable for gathering data on specific aspects or quantifying opinions and attitudes on a particular topic.