Asking Questions - The Definitive Guide To Questionnaire Design ...

352 GLOSSARY
the sex of the respondent might be recorded in column 10 of deck 1.
The Resident Questionnaire (Figure 6.9) might require a larger
number of decks in order to record the information. The point at
which a new deck (or worksheet or file) is required is predesigned on
the questionnaire for ease of keypunching. (See also precolumning.)
demographic characteristics The basic classification variables—
sex, age, marital status, race, ethnic origin, education, occupation,
income, religion, and residence—that characterize an individual or
a household.
dependent, independent, and interdependent variables Dependent
variables are the behaviors, attitudes, or knowledge whose
variance the researcher is attempting to explain. Independent variables
are those that are thought to influence the dependent
variables. Whether variables such as occupation or income are
dependent or independent variables depends on the purposes of the
researcher and the model used. Generally, if a trade-off is required,
it is more important to measure dependent variables accurately
than independent variables. In more complex models, variables
may be interdependent; that is, variable A is affecting variable B
while variable B is simultaneously affecting variable A. Such interdependent
variables should be measured with the same levels of
accuracy if possible.
diaries Written records kept by respondents to report events that
are difficult to remember accurately at a later time, such as illnesses
or purchases of nondurable goods. Diary keepers are requested
to make entries immediately after the purchase or other
event occurs and are usually compensated with money or gifts for
their cooperation.
dichotomous and multiple choice questions See closed-ended and
open-ended questions.
die-cut pages Pages in a questionnaire that are cut off across the
top or on the side so that the interviewer can always see to whom