parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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Section two of the questionnaires for both parents and principals consisted of 32
closed questions each. The respondents were requested to indicate their responses
to the statements based on parents and principals as partners in creating a culture
of learning in three ways, namely agree, disagree and uncertain.
5.4.3 Characteristics of a good questionnaire
Throughout the construction ofthe questionnaire the researcher had to consider the
characteristics of a good questionnaire in order to meet the requirements necessary
for the research instrument to be reliable. The characteristics of a good
questionnaire that were considered by the researcher are, according to Van den
Aardweg & Van den Aardweg (1988: 190) and Mahlangu (1987:84-85) the
following:
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It has to deal with a significant topic, one the respondent will recognise as
important enough to warrant spending his or her time on. The significance
should be clearly and carefully stated on the questionnaire and on the
accompanying letter.
It must seek only that information which cannot be obtained from other
sources.
It must be as short as possible, but long enough to get the essential data.
Long questionnaires frequently find their way into the waste-paper basket.
Questionnaires should be attractive in appearance, neatly arranged and
clearly duplicated or printed.
Directions for a good questionnaire must be clear and complete and
important terms clearly defined.