parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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(2) Disadvantages of the questionnaire
The researcher is also aware of the fact that the written questionnaire has
important disadvantages. According to Van den Aardweg & Van den Aardweg
(1988: 190) and Kidder & Judd (1986:223-224) the disadvantages of the
questionnaire are inter alia the following:
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Questionnaires do not provide the flexibility of interviews. In an interview
an idea or comment can be explored. This makes it possible to gauge how
people are interpreting the question. If questions asked are interpreted
differently by respondent the validity of the information obtained is
jeopardised.
People are generally better able to express their views verbally than in
writing.
Questions can be answered only when they are sufficiently easy and
straight-forward to be understood with the given instructions and
definitions.
The mail questionnaire does not make provision for obtaining the views of
more than one person at a time. It requires uninfluenced views of one
person only.
Answers to mail questionnaires must be seen as final. Re-checking of
responses cannot be done. There is no chance of investigating beyond the
given answer for a clarification of ambiguous answers. If respondents are
unwilling to answer certain questions nothing can be done to it because the
mail questionnaire is essentially flexible.