A brief teaching note on questionnaire survey as a research methods: for MBA and Housing Studies students

A brief teaching note on questionnaire survey as a research methods: for MBA and Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Briefly highlight the main ideas of questionnaire survey as a research method in social science with reference to the following topics: (1) favored research philosophy, (2) favored research method design techniques, (3) favored research method design quality criteria, (4) favored data analysis techniques, and (5) favored researcher's impression management approach in conducting the questionnaire survey."

The reply: "To briefly highlight the main ideas of questionnaire survey as a research method in social science with references to the requested topics:

(1) Favored Research Philosophy:

• Questionnaire surveys are most commonly aligned with a positivist philosophy, which emphasizes objective measurement and quantification of social phenomena.

• This philosophy treats knowledge as something to be measured and tested, often using standardized and structured tools like questionnaires.

• However, there is also recognition of post-positivist and constructivist positions, which see questionnaire data as constructed through social interaction and interpretation, not just found objectively.

(2) Favored Research Method Design Techniques:

• The design of questionnaires usually involves the creation of standardized questions to allow for rapid data collection from large samples.

• Researchers often use structured questions that seek facts, opinions, attitudes, or self-reports in a quantifiable way.

• Mixed-method designs may combine questionnaires with qualitative elements to enrich understanding.

(3) Favored Research Method Design Quality Criteria:

• Quality is judged by validity (does the questionnaire measure what it intends to?) and reliability (does it produce consistent results?).

• Ethical considerations and the social relationship between researcher and respondent are important, recognizing that responses may be influenced by social desirability bias.

• Sampling coverage and administration mode (online, paper, or group) are also critical to minimize coverage error and ensure representativeness.

(4) Favored Data Analysis Techniques:

• Data analysis in questionnaire surveys predominantly involves statistical techniques, often descriptive statistics and inferential analysis to test hypotheses.

• Quantitative data coding, frequency distribution, cross-tabulation, regression, and statistical tests are common.

• In mixed-methods, qualitative thematic analysis may supplement quantitative results.

(5) Favored Researcher’s Impression Management Approach:

• Researchers must manage social desirability bias, which can cause respondents to give socially acceptable answers rather than truthful ones.

• Transparency, reflexivity, and ethical engagement are encouraged to acknowledge the influence of researcher-participant dynamics.

• Researchers are advised to design questions carefully, ensure confidentiality, and sometimes use anonymous surveys to reduce response biases.

These points summarize the main ideas about questionnaire surveys as a research method in social sciences across the specified thematic areas. If needed, more detailed focus on any area can be provided."

My question 2: "Clarify your information for this discussion a bit more with reference to the following research project topics:

1. MBA related: "to learn more about office staff's preference on the leadership style of their supervisors in Hong Kong four-star hotels in 2025"

2. Housing studies related: "to learn more about the experience of elderly residents in public housing estate in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong with regard to the quality of residential life in 2025"."

The reply: "To clarify the information on the two specific research project topics:

1. MBA related project: "to learn more about office staff's preference on the leadership style of their supervisors in Hong Kong four-star hotels in 2025"

• Research philosophy: This project would likely use a positivist or post-positivist philosophy to collect quantifiable data on leadership style preferences through structured questionnaires.

• Design techniques: The questionnaire items would be designed to measure recognized leadership styles such as transformational, transactional, or paternalistic styles common in Chinese hospitality context. This would involve standardized rating scales or Likert-type questions.

• Design quality criteria: Validity would be ensured by tailoring questions to local cultural contexts (e.g., Confucian values influencing leadership expectations). Reliability would be boosted by consistent question formats. Sampling would target office staff in four-star hotels specifically.

• Data analysis: Preference data would be analyzed statistically (frequency, means, correlations) to detect dominant leadership style preferences and differences across demographics.

• Impression management: The questionnaire would be designed to reduce social desirability bias, for example, by assuring anonymity of responses and carefully wording questions about leadership behavior.

This aligns with leadership research in Chinese hospitality, where transformational leadership with cultural adaptation (like emphasis on emotional intelligence and respect) is emerging and where young, diverse hotel leaders are gaining prominence.

2. Housing studies related project: "to learn more about the experience of elderly residents in public housing estate in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong with regard to quality of residential life in 2025"

• Research philosophy: A mixed or constructivist-oriented approach might be favored, as the focus is on subjective experience rather than purely objective measurement.

• Design techniques: The questionnaire will mix closed questions on measurable aspects of residential quality (e.g., satisfaction scales) with open-ended questions capturing qualitative insights about elderly residents' lived experience.

• Design quality criteria: Validity will involve ensuring questions are relevant and comprehensible to elderly respondents; reliability involves clear, simple language and consistent administration.

• Data analysis: Quantitative responses can be statistically analyzed, while open-ended responses could be thematically analyzed to highlight key experiential themes.

• Impression management: Special care is needed to build rapport and trust, possibly working with community organizations; questions should be respectful and avoid leading respondents.

This reflects common practices in social housing and gerontology research, where combining quantitative satisfaction measures with qualitative experience reflections offers a fuller picture of residential life quality for vulnerable populations.

These elaborations tie the general concepts of questionnaire surveys as a social science method to the nuances of the two applied research topics given."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.