Questionnaire is a?

Appeared in: DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

Explanation

A questionnaire is defined as a research instrument used for data collection, consisting of a set of questions to be answered by subjects.
Its primary purpose is to gather information from a target population in a structured manner.
It is a planned, self-reported form designed to elicit written or verbal responses about knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings.
Textbooks on nursing research explicitly classify questionnaires as a tool for data collection, distinct from the overall research method or the subsequent analysis.

Option A: A research method is the overall strategy or framework for the study (e.g., survey research, experimental design). A questionnaire is a tool that can be used within various research methods, not the method itself.
Option B: While a questionnaire can contain measurement scales (like a Likert scale) to measure variables, its fundamental role is as a tool to collect the data. 'Measurement technique' is a broader concept about how variables are quantified.
Option D: Data analysis is the process performed on the data after it has been collected. A questionnaire is used to gather the raw data; analysis happens later using statistical or qualitative methods.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and role of a questionnaire in the research process as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently use questionnaires in clinical practice to gather patient information, such as admission forms, health history questionnaires, and pain assessment scales.
In nursing research, questionnaires are essential for collecting data on patient satisfaction, quality of life, health behaviors, and the effectiveness of nursing interventions.
What if? If a nurse needs to assess a patient's subjective experience of pain over time, a simple questionnaire like a numeric rating scale (0-10) is a quick and effective data collection tool. The research method might be a longitudinal study, and the analysis would involve tracking the pain scores.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'Questionnaire'.
Recall the definition of a questionnaire in the context of the research process.
Differentiate the term from other related research concepts presented in the options.
Recognize that a 'research method' is the overall strategy (e.g., a survey).
Understand that 'data analysis' is what you do with the information after you collect it.
Conclude that a questionnaire is the instrument or 'tool' used to perform the collection.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QisDLC7WATytSLmyoq3AzV

E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 2 p. 7-9

E6 NursingResearch Sukhpal Kaur pp. 274-276, 293-295

Practise the full DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.