how to write research questions in quantitative research

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Quantitative Research Questionnaire – Types & Examples

Published by Alvin Nicolas at August 20th, 2024 , Revised On October 24, 2024

Research is usually done to provide solutions to an ongoing problem. Wherever the researchers see a gap, they tend to launch research to enhance their knowledge and to provide solutions to the needs of others. If they want to research from a subjective point of view, they consider qualitative research. On the other hand, when they research from an objective point of view, they tend to consider quantitative research.

There’s a fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. Qualitative research, related to subjectivity, assesses individuals’ personal opinions and experiences, while quantitative research, associated with objectivity, collects numerical data to derive results. However, the best medium to collect data in quantitative research is a questionnaire.

Let’s discuss what a quantitative research questionnaire is, its types, methods of writing questions, and types of survey questions. By thoroughly understanding these key essential terms, you can efficiently create a professional and well-organised quantitative research questionnaire.

What is a Quantitative Research Questionnaire?

Quantitative research questionnaires are preferably used during quantitative research. They are a well-structured set of questions designed specifically to gather specific, close-ended participant responses. This allows the researchers to gather numerical data and obtain a deep understanding of a particular event or problem.

As you know, qualitative research questionnaires contain open-ended questions that allow the participants to express themselves freely, while quantitative research questionnaires contain close-ended and specific questions, such as multiple-choice and Likert scales, to assess individuals’ behaviour.

Quantitative research questionnaires are usually used in research in various fields, such as psychology, medicine, chemistry, and economics.

Let’s see how you can write quantitative research questions by going through some examples:

How much do British people consume fast food per week?
What is the percentage of students living in hostels in London?

Types of Quantitative Research Questions With Examples

After learning what a quantitative research questionnaire is and what quantitative research questions look like, it’s time to thoroughly discuss the different types of quantitative research questions to explore this topic more.

Dichotomous Questions

Dichotomous questions are those with a margin for only two possible answers. They are usually used when the answers are “Yes/No” or “True/False.” These questions significantly simplify the research process and help collect simple responses.

Example: Have you ever visited Istanbul?

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple-choice questions have a list of possible answers for the participants to choose from. They help assess people’s general knowledge, and the data gathered by multiple-choice questions can be easily analysed.

Example: Which of the following is the capital of France?

Multiple Answer Questions

Multiple-answer questions are similar to multiple-choice questions. However, there are multiple answers for participants to choose from. They are used when the questions can’t have a single, specific answer.

Example: Which of the following movie genres are your favourite?

Likert Scale Questions

Likert scale questions are used when the preferences and emotions of the participants are measured from one extreme to another. The scales are usually applied to measure likelihood, frequency, satisfaction, and agreement. The Likert scale has only five options to choose from.

Example: How satisfied are you with your job?

Semantic Differential Questions

Similar to Likert scales, semantic differential questions are also used to measure the emotions and attitudes of participants. The only difference is that instead of using extreme options such as strongly agree and strongly disagree, opposites of a particular choice are given to reduce bias.

Example: Please rate the services of our company.

Rank Order Questions

Rank-order questions are usually used to measure the preferences and choices of the participants efficiently. In this, multiple choices are given, and participants are asked to rank them according to their perspective. This helps to create a good participant profile.

Example: Rank the given books according to your interest.

Matrix Questions

Matrix questions are similar to Likert scales. In Likert scales, participants’ responses are measured through separate questions, while in matrix questions, multiple questions are compiled in a single row to simplify the data collection method efficiently.

Example: Rate the following activities that you do in daily life.

How To Write Quantitative Research Questions?

Quantitative research questions allow researchers to gather empirical data to answer their research problems. As we have discussed the different types of quantitative research questions above, it’s time to learn how to write the perfect quantitative research questions for a questionnaire and streamline your research process.

Here are the steps to follow to write quantitative research questions efficiently.

Step 1: Determine the Research Goals

The first step in writing quantitative research questions is to determine your research goals. Determining and confirming your research goals significantly helps you understand what kind of questions you need to create and for what grade. Efficiently determining the research goals also reduces the need for further modifications in the questionnaire.

Step 2: Be Mindful About the Variables

There are two variables in the questions: independent and dependent. It is essential to decide what would be the dependent variable in your questions and what would be the independent. It significantly helps to understand where to emphasise and where not. It also reduces the probability of additional and vague questions.

Step 3: Choose the Right Type of Question

It is also important to determine the right type of questions to add to your questionnaire. Whether you want Likert scales, rank-order questions, or multiple-answer questions, choosing the right type of questions will help you measure individuals’ responses efficiently and accurately.

Step 4: Use Easy and Clear Language

Another thing to keep in mind while writing questions for a quantitative research questionnaire is to use easy and clear language. As you know, quantitative research is done to measure specific and simple responses in empirical form, and using easy and understandable language in questions makes a huge difference.

Step 5: Be Specific About The Topic

Always be mindful and specific about your topic. Avoid writing questions that divert from your topic because they can cause participants to lose interest. Use the basic terms of your selected topic and gradually go deep. Also, remember to align your topic and questions with your research objectives and goals.

Step 6: Appropriately Write Your Questions

When you have considered all the above-discussed things, it’s time to write your questions appropriately. Don’t just haste in writing. Think twice about the result of a question and then consider writing it in the questionnaire. Remember to be precise while writing. Avoid overwriting.

Step 7: Gather Feedback From Peers

When you have finished writing questions, gather feedback from your researcher peers. Write down all the suggestions and feedback given by your peers. Don’t panic over the criticism of your questions. Remember that it’s still time to make necessary changes to the questionnaire before launching your campaign.

Step 8: Refine and Finalise the Questions

After gathering peer feedback, make necessary and appropriate changes to your questions. Be mindful of your research goals and topic. Try to modify your questions according to them. Also, be mindful of the theme and colour scheme of the questionnaire that you decided on. After refining the questions, finalise your questionnaire.

Types of Survey Questionnaires in Quantitative Research

Quantitative research questionnaires have close-ended questions that allow the researchers to measure accurate and specific responses from the participants. They don’t contain open-ended questions like qualitative research, where the response is measured by interviews and focus groups. Good combinations of questions are used in the quantitative research survey .

However, here are the types of surveys in quantitative research:

Descriptive Survey

The descriptive survey is used to obtain information about a particular variable. It is used to associate a quantity and quantify research variables. The questions associated with descriptive surveys mostly start with “What is” and “How much”.

Example: A descriptive survey to measure how much money children spend to buy toys.

Comparative Survey

A comparative survey is used to establish a comparison between one or more dependable variables and two or more comparison groups. This survey aims to form a comparative relation between the variables under study. The structure of the question in a comparative survey is, “What is the difference in [dependable variable] between [two or more groups]?”.

Example: A comparative survey on the difference in political awareness between Eastern and Western citizens.

Relationship-Based Survey

Relationship-based survey is used to understand the relationship or association between two or more independent and dependent variables. Cause and effect between two or more variables is measured in the relationship-based survey. The structure of questions in a relationship-based survey is, “What is the relation [between or among] [independent variable] and [dependable variable]?”.

Example: What is the relationship between education and lifestyle in America?

Advantages & Disadvantages of Questionnaires in Quantitative Research

Quantitative research questionnaires are an excellent tool to collect data and information about the responses of individuals. Quantitative research comes with various advantages, but along with advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Check the table below to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a quantitative research questionnaire.

Quantitative Research Questionnaire Example

Here is an example of a quantitative research questionnaire to help you get the idea and create an efficient and well-developed questionnaire for your research:

ii) What is your gender?

ii) Have you graduated?

iii) Are you employed?

iv) Are you married?

Part 2: Provide your honest response.

Question 1: I have tried online shopping.

Question 2: I have good experience with online shopping.

Question 3: I have a bad experience with online shopping.

Question 4: I received my order on time.

Question 5: I like physical shopping more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a quantitative research questionnaire.

A quantitative research questionnaire is a well-structured set of questions designed specifically to gather specific and close-ended participant responses.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?

The difference between qualitative and quantitative research is subjectivity and objectivity. Subjectivity is associated with qualitative research, while objectivity is associated with quantitative research.