CMNS 26012 October 2011

Assignment 4

• Due Oct. 26

• “If interviews are not a suitable method for gathering information on your research question then develop a new research question that could be studied through an interview.”

• Informed Consent– See example on the WebDav

• Open-ended Questions (p.163)

• Closed-ended Questions (p.163)

• Design a scale or indice (Likert Scale p.123)

• Discussion, Analysis, and IdeasThree principles for effective survey

questions:

1) Keep it Clear

2) Keep it Simple

3) Keep the Respondent’s Perspective in Mind

(p.156)

• Topic – Public Cellphone Etiquette in Restaurants

• Research Question: Does cellphone use vary according to types of restaurants (family-oriented, fast-food, causal, upscale, formal)?

• Open-Ended Questions (p.163)– What types of restaurants do you prefer to eat at?– Could you describe an instance where you have used or seen another person

use a cellphone in a restaurant?– When is it appropriate to use a cellphone at a restaurant?

• Close-Ended Questions– Have you ever answered your phone while at a restaurant? Y/N– If yes, where were you in the restaurant?

• A) At the bar• B) Foyer/Host area• C) Seated at a table (inside)• D) Seated at a table (outside)• E) In the bathroom• F) Paying the bill (at register/interac machine)

• Scale (p.122-126) Restaurants should block cellphone signals Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

It’s okay to use a cellphone if you’re eating aloneStrongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Additional considerations…• Design Issues (168-173)

• Organization: does your questionnaire have opening, middle and ending questions? (p.169)

• Order Effects: could earlier questions affect later answers? (p.169)• Context Effects: do questions move from general to specific? (p.170)

• The Role of the Interviewer (176-179)

• See Box 8.8 – Examples of Probes and Recording Full Responses to Closed Questions (p.178)

• Asking Questions in Qualitative Interviews (257-259)• To consider, but may not necessarily be relevant for this assignment:• Kvale Question Types – do your open and close-ended questions

correspond?

Tutorial Exercise

• Continue to prepare questionnaire for lab interviews on Oct. 19

• Consult with colleagues – keeping in mind guidelines from textbook readings and lectures