Questionnaire vs. Scale: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A questionnaire is a set of written questions used for collecting information, while a scale is a system or series for measuring or grading a range of values.
Key Differences
A questionnaire typically consists of a series of questions presented to individuals to obtain statistically useful information about a given topic. On the other hand, a scale, in the context of data collection, refers to a set of numeric values assigned to specific responses, used to measure variables like attitudes or perceptions.
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Dec 01, 2023
Questionnaires are used in various fields such as market research, psychology, and social sciences to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Scales, however, are often integrated within questionnaires as a method to quantify the intensity or frequency of respondents' feelings, attitudes, or behaviors.
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Dec 01, 2023
The design of a questionnaire focuses on the wording and order of questions to minimize bias and maximize reliability and validity. In contrast, the design of a scale emphasizes the creation of a scoring system that accurately reflects the dimension being measured, such as a Likert scale.
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Dec 01, 2023
Questionnaires can be delivered in multiple formats such as paper, online, or interviews, and can include open-ended or closed-ended questions. Scales, conversely, are usually structured in a specific format, requiring respondents to rate their responses on a predetermined range, like 1 to 5.
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Dec 01, 2023
Analyzing results from a questionnaire involves looking at the answers to each question to draw conclusions or identify trends. Analysis of scale data involves statistical methods to understand the distribution and central tendencies of the ratings provided by the respondents.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Collects diverse information on a topic
Measures intensity or frequency of variables
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Structure
Can include various types of questions
Structured as a rating system
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Analysis
Analyzes individual responses or patterns
Analyzes rating distributions and tendencies
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Usage Context
Broadly used in surveys and research
Specifically used in psychometrics and assessments
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Questionnaire and Scale Definitions
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a written set of questions designed to gather information from respondents.
The health clinic distributed a questionnaire to understand patient satisfaction.
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Dec 01, 2023
Scale
A scale is a range of numbers used to measure or rate something.
The survey used a 1-5 scale to rate customer satisfaction.
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Dec 01, 2023
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is an instrument for research, often used in social sciences.
Researchers used a questionnaire to collect data on people's eating habits.
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Dec 01, 2023
Scale
A scale is a graduated series of marks used for measuring.
The geologist used a scale to estimate the age of the rock formations.
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Dec 01, 2023
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a structured form used in studies to obtain qualitative or quantitative information.
The students filled out a questionnaire about their study habits.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Scale
A scale is a sequential arrangement of values used for comparison.
The music teacher explained the concept of a musical scale to her students.
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Dec 01, 2023
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a survey tool used for collecting data from a specific group.
The marketing team created a questionnaire to gauge customer interest in new products.
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Dec 01, 2023
Scale
One of the many small hard dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes and reptiles and certain mammals, such as pangolins.
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Oct 19, 2023
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a series of questions used for gathering information for analysis.
The company sent out a customer service questionnaire to improve their support.
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Dec 01, 2023
Scale
A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.
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Oct 19, 2023
Questionnaire
A form containing a set of questions, especially one addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information for a survey.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A small, thin, often flattened plant structure, such as one of the modified leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that bear the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Questionnaire
A form containing a list of questions; a means of gathering information for a survey
Carry out a questionnaire
Fill out a questionnaire
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Oct 19, 2023
Questionnaire
A list of questions, usually on a printed form, to be answered by an individual. The forms often have blank spaces in which the answers can be written. Sets of such forms are distributed to groups and the answers used for various purposes, such as to obtain statistical information for social science, political, or marketing research, or to obtain information about a patient for the use of medical practitioners.
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Oct 19, 2023
Questionnaire
A form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement
A ruler whose scale is in inches.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents
A world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
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Scale
Proper proportion
A house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
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Scale
A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank
Judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.
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Scale
A minimum wage fixed by contract
Musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.
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Scale
(Mathematics) A system of notation in which the values of numerical expressions are determined by their places relative to the chosen base of the system
The decimal scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(Music) An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To throw or propel (a thin flat object) through the air or along a surface, such as water or ice.
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Scale
(Dentistry) To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale
Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.
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Scale
To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts
Scaled down their demands.
Scaled back the scheduled pay increase.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To have a given weight, as determined by a scale
Cargo that scales 11 tons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
An ordered, usually numerical sequence used for measurement, means of assigning a magnitude.
Please rate your experience on a scale from 1 to 10.
The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the open-ended Richter scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Size; scope.
On an enormous scale was a blood-feast.
There are some who question the scale of our ambitions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
The ratio of depicted distance to actual distance.
This map uses a scale of 1:10.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A line or bar associated with a drawing, used to indicate measurement when the image has been magnified or reduced.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(music) A series of notes spanning an octave, tritave, or pseudo-octave, used to make melodies.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A mathematical base for a numeral system; radix.
The decimal scale; the binary scale
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Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A standard amount of money to be received by a performer or writer, negotiated by a union.
Sally wasn't the star of the show, so she was glad to be paid scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard pieces of keratin covering the skin of an animal, particularly a fish or reptile.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A small piece of pigmented chitin, many of which coat the wings of a butterfly or moth to give them their color.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard protective layers forming a pinecone that flare when mature to release pine nut seeds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A device to measure mass or weight.
After the long, lazy winter I was afraid to get on the scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(transitive) To change the size of something whilst maintaining proportion; especially to change a process in order to produce much larger amounts of the final product.
We should scale that up by a factor of 10.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(transitive) To climb to the top of.
Hilary and Norgay were the first known to have scaled Everest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To tolerate significant increases in throughput or other potentially limiting factors.
That architecture won't scale to real-world environments.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(transitive) To weigh, measure or grade according to a scale or system.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(transitive) To remove the scales of.
Please scale that fish for dinner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(intransitive) To become scaly; to produce or develop scales.
The dry weather is making my skin scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(transitive) To strip or clear of scale; to descale.
To scale the inside of a boiler
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Scale
(transitive) To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
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Scale
(intransitive) To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae.
Some sandstone scales by exposure.
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Scale
(transitive) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
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Scale
The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; - chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.
Long time in even scaleThe battle hung.
The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no moreNow than my vows.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.
Fish that, with their fins and shining scales,Glide under the green wave.
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Scale
Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.
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Scale
One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.
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Scale
A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.
There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.
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Scale
To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
Scaling his present bearing with his past.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.
Those that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they scale off.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
Oft have I scaled the craggy oak.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
To lead up by steps; to ascend.
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,That scaled by steps of gold to heaven-gate,Looks down with wonder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
The ratio between the size of something and a representation of it;
The scale of the map
The scale of the model
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
Pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard
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Scale
Take by attacking with scaling ladders;
The troops scaled the walls of the fort
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Oct 19, 2023
Scale
A scale is a system for scoring or evaluating specific criteria.
The teacher used a grading scale to assess the students' essays.
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Dec 01, 2023
Scale
A scale is a set of levels or numbers used to quantify assessments in research.
In the study, participants' stress levels were measured on a psychological scale.
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Dec 01, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a scale in surveys?
A range of numbers or descriptors used to measure responses.
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Dec 01, 2023
How are questionnaires distributed?
Through paper, online platforms, or in-person interviews.
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Dec 01, 2023
What is a questionnaire?
A set of written questions for gathering information from respondents.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can a questionnaire be qualitative?
Yes, it can include open-ended questions for qualitative data.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can scales measure attitudes?
Yes, scales are often used to measure attitudes, opinions, or perceptions.
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Dec 01, 2023
What is the purpose of a scale in research?
To quantify and assess the intensity or frequency of responses.
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Dec 01, 2023
What types of scales are used in questionnaires?
Likert scales, numerical rating scales, and semantic differential scales.
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Dec 01, 2023
What's the difference between a questionnaire and a survey?
A survey is a broader term that can include questionnaires as a data collection tool.
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Dec 01, 2023
Do questionnaires require consent?
Yes, ethical standards usually require informed consent from participants.
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Dec 01, 2023
How is data from scales analyzed?
Through statistical methods to examine patterns and distributions.
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Dec 01, 2023
Are questionnaires reliable?
They can be, especially if carefully designed to minimize bias.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can a questionnaire include demographic questions?
Yes, often included to gather background information about respondents.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can a scale have open-ended responses?
Rarely, as scales typically use predefined rating systems.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is it necessary to pilot test a questionnaire?
Yes, to ensure clarity and reliability of the questions.
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Dec 01, 2023
Are there different types of scales?
Yes, including ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can scales be subjective?
Yes, especially when measuring personal opinions or feelings.
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Dec 01, 2023
How long should a questionnaire be?
It varies, but should be long enough to gather necessary information without causing respondent fatigue.
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Dec 01, 2023
What are closed-ended questions in a questionnaire?
Questions with limited response options, like multiple-choice.
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Dec 01, 2023
How do scales help in quantitative research?
They provide numerical data for statistical analysis.
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Dec 01, 2023
Are scales useful in clinical assessments?
Yes, frequently used in medical and psychological evaluations.
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Dec 01, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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