RESEARCH METHOD COHEN ok

PROCESSING QUESTIONNAIRE DATA 347
Box 15.5
Aflowchartfortheplanningofapostalsurvey
Address and serial number
labels and attach to
outward envelopes
Prepare questionnaires
and covering letters
Prepare stamped
addressed return
envelopes
Prepare incentives
(if relevant)
Chapter 15
Enter serial number
from labels on
questionnaires and
on covering letter
Insert questionnaires, covering letters,
(incentives) and return envelopes
into outward envelopes
Seal and stamp
outward envelopes
MAILING
Book in completed
questionnaires against
sample serial numbers
Mail first reminder
to non-respondents
Mail second reminder
to non-respondents
Prepare final
response summaries
Send letter of thanks
to all respondents
Transfer questionnaires
to data preparation staff
Source:HoinvilleandJowell1978
of postal questionnaires and have secured a high
response rate to their surveys. Their task is now
to reduce the mass of data they have obtained to
aformsuitableforanalysis.‘Datareduction’,as
the process is called, generally consists of coding
data in preparation for analysis – by hand in the
case of small surveys; by computers when numbers
are larger. First, however, prior to coding, the
questionnaires have to be checked. This task is
referred to as editing.
Editing questionnaires is intended to identify
and eliminate errors made by respondents. (In