| A questionnaire is the mainstay of survey research, | | | | someone other than the invited respondent completing |
| used most often to gather information from large | | | | the questionnaire)? Is the person at the computer really |
| numbers of individuals. The questionnaire contains | | | | who they say they are? |
| questions (or items) administered online or through the | | | | 13. When and how will data be collected? By whom? |
| mail that have been standardized to mean the same | | | | 14. What will be done with the data? How will data be |
| thing to everyone so that responses can be | | | | used? |
| compared to one another. | | | | 15. Will multiple methods be used to gather feedback? |
| It's always best, of course, to generate a plan to direct | | | | Do such instruments exist or must they be developed? |
| questionnaire design and implementation. Points to | | | | 16. How will we ensure validity and reliability of |
| include in the plan include available resources, | | | | questionnaire items and instruments? |
| outcomes, indicators demonstrating outcome success, | | | | 17. Who will analyze the data? At what point(s) in the |
| sources of information, methods used to gather | | | | process will data be analyzed? |
| information and points at which the information will be | | | | 18. How will data be analyzed? |
| gathered. Plans to pilot test the questionnaire should | | | | 19. How will data be displayed and disseminated (e.g., |
| also be an integral part of the plan. | | | | narrative, charts, tables, graphs, hard copy, CD, diskette, |
| Two types of information are often collected. | | | | web)? |
| Quantitative information is best gathered using | | | | 20. How will the information be reported? What |
| questionnaires, yielding the summary of large amounts | | | | reports must be written? For whom? |
| of data and generalizations based on statistical | | | | 21. Are questionnaires and associated materials |
| projections. | | | | available in alternative formats for (e.g., large print, |
| Qualitative information is gathered from a thorough | | | | Braille, audiotape, videotape, tactile, sign language |
| investigation of issues, using multiple methods, including | | | | interpreter, language translator) for people with |
| observations, interviews, focus groups, key informants | | | | disabilities? Respondents to questionnaires represent |
| and journals to ultimately tell a story. | | | | many cultures and populations; not everyone will speak |
| The richest results often combine quantitative and | | | | English and some members of the sample will have a |
| qualitative approaches. Regardless of which approach | | | | disability. People may be, but be not limited to, color |
| is used, the following questions are useful in thinking | | | | blind or have impaired physical strength, range of |
| about the process of questionnaire design and | | | | motion, sensory, mobility, cognition, vision, speech or |
| implementation: | | | | hearing. |
| | | | Some of the laws governing accessible practice |
| 1. Why are we gathering this feedback? What do we | | | | include the following: |
| want to know? When do we need the information? | | | | - Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with |
| 2. Are stated goals observable and measurable? | | | | Disabilities Act of 1988 |
| 3. Do we have the time, resources and expertise | | | | - the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 |
| in-house to gather this feedback or do we need to | | | | - Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 |
| work with an online survey provider? | | | | - Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in |
| 4. What have colleagues in other organizations done? | | | | 1998 The legal standards in Section 508 and Section |
| 5. With whom should we consult during the planning | | | | 255 state that the following shall be accessible if |
| process (e.g., online survey provider, statistician)? | | | | ''readily achievable", that is if the entity can be made |
| 6. Who should we include in the sample? How will the | | | | accessible without much difficulty or expense. This |
| sample be selected? How many people do we need | | | | includes, for example, software applications and |
| to reach? | | | | operating systems, web-based intranet and internet |
| 7. Is updated contact information available for the | | | | information, video and multimedia products, desktop |
| sample? | | | | and portable computers. |
| 8. Do people in the sample speak English? If not, should | | | | Technical standards in Section 508 state that |
| the questionnaire be translated into other languages? | | | | "Applications shall not override user selected contrast |
| 9. What does the target population already know | | | | and color selections and other individual display |
| about the topic? Will they be able to answer questions | | | | attributes." If applications are not accessible, then they |
| accurately? | | | | must be, at the very least, compatible with "existing |
| 10. Are there any geographic limitations? | | | | peripheral devices and specialized customer equipment |
| 11. Will respondents need to consult records when | | | | commonly used by people with disabilities" (i.e., assistive |
| responding to the questionnaire? | | | | technology) (Section 255). |
| 12. Can false respondents be avoided (that is, | | | | |