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In surveys and interviews information is gathered by asking questions. Different kinds of questions lead to different kinds of information and this leads to different kinds of analysing the data.

Open questions are used in interviews. The respondent has to think of and to formulate the answer. The result is a text that has to be analysed with qualitative techniques.

Closed questions are used in surveys. The respondent have to tick an answer. The information is stored in a database and analysed with quantitative techniques.

Related topics to Types of Questions:

Different forms of closed questions can be distinguished. These are the most important and are covered in this online dictionary:

• Likert-scales 
• Multiple-choice questions 
• Multiple-response questions 
• Semantic differential

Other suggestions for further reading:

• Analysing qualitative data 
• Analysing quantitative data 
• Variable 
  • Nominal level 
  • Ordinal level 
  • Interval level 
  • Ratio level

Read these manuals and do your research smoothly:

• How to analyse data from interviews
• The statistical test procedure 
• How to find the correct statistical test

Return to the index of this dictionary