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Article
Publication date: 6 February 2020

Jane Brown, Anders Wäppling and Helen Woodruffe-Burton

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to questionnaires as a corporate touch point, and their relationship with corporate identity (CI).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to questionnaires as a corporate touch point, and their relationship with corporate identity (CI).

Design/methodology/approach

Following observational research, the paper presents a review of published works, including journals, textbooks and industry papers that consider qualitative aspects of questionnaire design. Primary data was collected via existential phenomenological interviews to understand the experiences of employees who engage with questionnaires from external companies within the industrial business-to-business (B2B) industry.

Findings

A lack of practical advice around aesthetic appearance of questionnaires in both journal papers and research design textbooks is identified, suggesting limited awareness of visual aspects of questionnaire design, even for those with formal training. Through interviews, it is suggested that poor design is forgiven through the understanding of the practical nature of the document, the idea that CI is a performance that is unnecessary at particular points of the B2B relationship, and that a more powerful company need not spend time on CI if collecting data from a stakeholder that is perhaps perceived as less important than other stakeholders. The findings indicate that organisations should consider questionnaires as a vehicle to promote CI, and as stakeholders to consider the document in terms of their relationship with the issuing company.

Research limitations/implications

This study proposes that qualitative inquiry is required to further determine how questionnaires are understood as a corporate touch point by stakeholders.

Originality/value

This paper considers the relationship between questionnaire appearance and stakeholder perceptions in the context of CI.

Details

Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 23 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-2752

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 March 2014

Jenny Rowley

This article aims to draw on experience in supervising new researchers, and the advice of other writers to offer novice researchers such as those engaged in study for a thesis, or…

54903

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to draw on experience in supervising new researchers, and the advice of other writers to offer novice researchers such as those engaged in study for a thesis, or in another small-scale research project, a pragmatic introduction to designing and using research questionnaires.

Design/methodology/approach

After a brief introduction, this article is organized into three main sections: designing questionnaires, distributing questionnaires, and analysing and presenting questionnaire data. Within these sections, ten questions often asked by novice researchers are posed and answered.

Findings

This article is designed to give novice researchers advice and support to help them to design good questionnaires, to maximise their response rate, and to undertake appropriate data analysis.

Originality/value

Other research methods texts offer advice on questionnaire design and use, but their advice is not specifically tailored to new researchers. They tend to offer options, but provide limited guidance on making crucial decisions in questionnaire design, distribution and data analysis and presentation.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Content available
Book part
Publication date: 11 November 2019

Abstract

Details

Methodological Issues in Management Research: Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78973-973-2

Book part
Publication date: 11 November 2019

Sudhakar Patra

This chapter covers the attributes of a well-designed questionnaire and on how to adopt a framework for developing questionnaires. Different types of questionnaires are discussed…

Abstract

This chapter covers the attributes of a well-designed questionnaire and on how to adopt a framework for developing questionnaires. Different types of questionnaires are discussed exhaustively, with tips on structure, procedures, and standard format examples. The author gives an elaborate example of a survey questionnaire, closely related to one of his major research project.

Details

Methodological Issues in Management Research: Advances, Challenges, and the Way Ahead
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78973-973-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2003

Jennifer Rowley

This article reviews the literature on student feedback questionnaires (SFQs), with a view to proposing some guidelines for the design of SFQs, and the processes associated with…

10130

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on student feedback questionnaires (SFQs), with a view to proposing some guidelines for the design of SFQs, and the processes associated with data collection, analysis and use. Despite a long and established tradition of use, practice in this area remains diverse, and research generates debate. This article first reviews the literature and surfaces the concerns about current work in this area, and then discusses the following questions that need to be considered in the research design for the collection of student feedback: What are the objectives of the evaluation process? Can standard questionnaires be developed to serve a range of purposes? What issues should be covered by the questions included on the questionnaire? How should data be collected, analysed and used? Answers to these questions should influence the exact design that is undertaken in different circumstances.

Details

Quality Assurance in Education, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0968-4883

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2020

Luís de Sousa, Isabel R. Pinto, Felippe Clemente and Gustavo Gouvêa Maciel

This article presents focus groups as a method to enhance questionnaire design to frame and test items for a mass survey on corruption and austerity in democracy. Such methodology…

Abstract

Purpose

This article presents focus groups as a method to enhance questionnaire design to frame and test items for a mass survey on corruption and austerity in democracy. Such methodology lacks systematization when it comes to the description of implementation procedures and the discussion of effective contribution to the development of survey questions on sensitive topics. The objective of this article is to contribute to the specialized literature on corruption by offering a novel focus group approach and a roadmap to guide researchers in the field when using this methodology to develop questionnaire items. This hands-on guide can be adaptable to other (survey) studies on issues prone to social desirability bias.

Design/methodology/approach

This article proposes an innovative multi-technique (short questionnaire, visual stimuli and exploratory discussion with expert moderation) focus group approach to collect informal impressions about corruption and austerity. By developing a focus group design through the combination of different research techniques, the authors were able to triangulate reflexive, spontaneous and interactive qualitative bottom-up information about individual perceptions and reactions to sensitive topics. By describing how to implement these groups, other than discussing what type of qualitative information can be extracted from these discussions and to what effect, the authors seek to present a hands-on guide that can be replicated and adapted to similar studies. This roadmap will help researchers to test individual perceptions and reactions to sensitive topics through the use of tailored focus groups in order to enhance the quality of survey questionnaires prior to engaging in a high-cost fieldwork.

Findings

The article concludes that the adoption of the multi-technique focus group approach to requalify and test questions for a nationwide survey gives us a better understanding of the many ethical dilemmas individuals confront when thinking about and expressing their views on sensitive topics prone to social desirability bias. The proposed multi-technique focus group approach proved to be effective to engage participants during sessions and to obtain relevant and unanticipated information for the development of new questionnaire items and the reviewing of old ones.

Research limitations/implications

Implementing Focus Group (FG) in regions with different cultural traditions and levels of development and contrasting the perceptions, values and attitudes of two generations, with different formative backgrounds is not an easy task. In order to secure the adequate number and type of participants, the Focus Group were organized in close collaboration with four higher education institutions and two lifelong learning programs where the sessions took place. Participation was voluntary and consented, in accordance with the applicable legislation and standards for social research.

Practical implications

The article presents an accessible and adaptable roadmap to researchers working in the field of corruption studies as well as anticorruption government agencies and CSOs interested in enhancing the quality of survey questionnaires on sensitive topics target of social desirability before engaging in a high-cost fieldwork and to describe relevant information that can be extracted from the discussions held.

Social implications

Most cross-country surveys on corruption tend to use basic/traditional measures to assess the phenomenon, such as questions on extension, acceptability and/or experience. They take almost for granted that people have the same understanding of this complex construct, which may not hold true, as the focus group discussions illustrate. The three-stage focus group design aims to improve the quality of a survey design regarding people's attitudes, perceptions and experiences of corruption in democracy, by contributing to the development of new questions that tap into the relationship between social condemnation and the individual's socio-economic conditions.

Originality/value

The article provides a low-cost combination of qualitative-oriented (questionnaire development through focus groups) with a quantitative-oriented research tool (mass survey implementation) to meet mixed-method research objectives and enhance the ability to capture several “non-statistical” dimensions of complex social phenomena that are often neglected when a single-methodology approach is used.

Details

Qualitative Research Journal, vol. 21 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1443-9883

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 October 2008

Sheng Chieh‐Wen, Ming‐Jian Shen and Ming‐Chia Chen

This research aims to treat voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) as general lifestyle and explore the correlation between VSL and selection preference of special interest tourism…

1595

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to treat voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) as general lifestyle and explore the correlation between VSL and selection preference of special interest tourism (SIT).

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a questionnaire survey. The content of the questionnaire include questions on participants' demographic variables, VSL, and selection preference of SIT. After designing the questionnaire of selection preference of SIT, this research treats the tourists in the Taiwan Guandu bird‐watching area as the targets and distributes the questionnaires. This research adopts systematic sampling for questionnaire distribution.

Findings

The following results are found: a positive correlation between selection preference of SIT and VSL; females are mostly allocated as the recreation and entertainment type people preferring SIT, the educational level of diverse interest type people preferring SIT tend to be higher, and these people have a more significant VSL; people who are the low degree of identification type with voluntary simplicity reveal almost the least scores in terms of all kinds of traveling preference, whereas complete involvement type individuals show a higher degree of preference.

Research limitations/implications

This questionnaire is not exclusive. In other words, the respondents can provide extremely high, medium, or low scores for the preference for any kind of trips. Thus, the respondents' real preference sequence cannot be distinguished. Future studies can modify this questionnaire. The questionnaire of selection preference of SIT designed by this research mainly followed the SIT itineraries promoted on traveling websites and upon certain processes. Thus, this questionnaire content is based on the view of the supply end.

Originality/value

This research follows the suggestions of McKercher and Chan, and after internet searching, the method imitates content analysis to establish a questionnaire with 18 questions with respect to the selection preference of SIT. Through factor analysis, the researchers select four kinds of selection preference of SIT, including traveling preference of recreation and entertainment, natural ecology, physical exploration, and history and art. In addition, this research also uses confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the convergent validity of the VSL questionnaire developed by the authors (2005).

Details

International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, vol. 2 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6182

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 July 2023

Leyla Alipour and Maryam Khoramian

With the goal to indicate the importance of human–nature connection in designing workplaces, the authors investigated the effects of direct and indirect biophilic indicators on…

296

Abstract

Purpose

With the goal to indicate the importance of human–nature connection in designing workplaces, the authors investigated the effects of direct and indirect biophilic indicators on the well-being and performance of employees of an organization. The main question is what is the effect of biophilic components on the well-being and performance of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

To answer the research questions, the authors designed and validated an instrument to evaluate correlation between biophilic components with well-being and performance. The participants include 160 employees of one organization. For the data analysis, both descriptive statistical and inferential statistics were used. Pearson's correlation test and ANOVA were conducted to explain the relationship between variables.

Findings

The results indicated that biophilic components have significant positive relationships with the well-being of the employees, but no significant relationship was found between biophilic components and the performance of the employees. Using the ANOVA test, biophilic indicators that have a positive and significant effect on the well-being and performance of employees were determined. The natural scenery and warm colors has significant positive effects on social well-being, and the usage of natural landscape posters in the working rooms has a positive and significant relationship with psychological well-being. The natural lighting has a positive and significant relationship with the employees' counterproductive work behavior.

Research limitations/implications

Most of the questionnaires of this research were filled electronically because of the health protocols during pandemic. Almost 70% of the organization's employees had less than 5 years of work experience, which can be considered one of the interfering factors. In addition, the authors only used the questionnaire as a tool for collecting information in this study. There are other forms of information that can be explored through observations, interviews or experiments. Another limitation of this study is the lack of significant diversity in the investigated environments. Finally, the numbers of male and female participants of this study were not equal. The authors suggest studying both genders with an almost equal ratio so that the differences and needs of both groups can be understood.

Practical implications

The designed questionnaire is a validated instrument that can be used by other researchers to evaluate the biophilic design of workplace. These findings can also be useful for managers, companies and organizations in making decisions to improve the working environment and increase the well-being and performance of their employees.

Social implications

The social effects of biophilic design in the workplace are significant as well. The use of biophilic components can foster a sense of connection between employees and their workplace, creating a positive social environment that supports collaboration and communication. Additionally, a biophilic workplace can promote a positive company culture that values the health and well-being of its employees, which can contribute to employee retention and satisfaction.

Originality/value

In this study, to determine the effects of the biophilic indicators on dimensions of employees' well-being and performance, an instrument is designed and validated.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Tourism Destination Quality
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83909-558-0

Article
Publication date: 23 November 2010

Victoria Harte and Jim Stewart

Educational programmes that are concerned with the learning and teaching of enterprise education, such as enterprise focused degrees and/or modules, could be argued to be of…

Abstract

Purpose

Educational programmes that are concerned with the learning and teaching of enterprise education, such as enterprise focused degrees and/or modules, could be argued to be of particular interest to human resource development (HRD) research since they commonly have an overt focus on influencing and shaping the career choices of students. Furthermore, the perceptions of students about their own career choices are also of immense value, especially in a period of economic downturn and financial uncertainty. The main aim of this paper is to report problems encountered by the authors when attempting to evaluate the impact of enterprise modules in higher education, in the context of HRD research. The paper also aims to discuss the evaluation of learning by students studying enterprise modules.

Design/methodology/approach

The research strategy for this project consisted of a longitudinal approach, initially over the course of three years using a pre‐designed research instrument (known as the EHGI questionnaire) to evaluate the impact of enterprise modules on students' self‐efficacy adopting a pre‐ and post‐test application. A series of qualitative interviews were also planned to gain further depth to the students' learning. However, the paper reports on the struggles and problems of using such an instrument and not on the actual results from the students.

Findings

Following the planned use of this pre‐designed instrument the authors encountered many problems with student take‐up, participation and follow‐up. This posed many problems to the project, which were detrimental to the research findings, potentially because of the pre‐ and post‐test applications. In the exploration to understand the detriments to this research, the findings illustrate that there are contrasts with current literature in the components that make survey research successful and that attrition is a common problem in research conducted in higher education.

Research limitations/implications

The paper proposes that the instrument is not suitable for use in traditional semesters in higher education. The instrument had been successfully applied in controlled group settings. However, there were a number of other potential factors that contributed to the detriments of the research.

Practical implications

Individuals should consider the use of this instrument in traditional higher education settings where controlled group settings cannot be guaranteed. Successful survey research in higher education settings requiring the participation of students requires structured planning and will only yield results following the full consideration of applicability of the EHGI questionnaire.

Originality/value

Individuals interested in evaluating enterprise education modules using the EHGI questionnaire will find value in this paper in relation to obstacles and problems that need to be considered and avoided before employing this instrument.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 52 no. 8/9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 94000