Technical guide: Online questionnaires

Aims

1. To provide background information on the range of options available for the production of online questionnaires and the key benefits and drawbacks of each;
2. To provide an introduction to the range of software and services available to assist in the production and implementation of online questionnaires;
3. To provide an introduction to HTML and CSS;
4. To introduce web forms and explore the technology behind the effective design of online questionnaires;
5. To introduce and allow practice in the use of JavaScript for basic form validation, and the gathering and preservation of user information;
6. To provide basic guidelines for the use of server-side technologies for the collection and processing of data;
7. To discuss relevant issues when choosing off-the-shelf software for the creation and administration of online questionnaires, and to provide general guidelines on how such software is used;
8. To describe key terms, definitions and terminology in relation to the technical aspects of online questionnaires;
9. To provide links to additional resources, frequently asked questions and print versions.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Identify appropriate technical options for the implementation of online questionnaires according to the context of research;
2. Identify key issues to bear in mind when choosing off-the-shelf software or services for online questionnaires;
3. Identify the technical features required for your online questionnaire, and select suitable software and/or services to provide for these requirements;
4. Use a range of technologies in the creation of online questionnaires, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript;
5. Create a web form, test it for consistency, and incorporate effective navigation and a progress bar;
6. Add basic validation and a means of collecting and preserving information about the user;
7. Use the form to collect and process data;
8. Use the correct terminology when communicating about online questionnaires;
9. Collect information about sources of help when developing online questionnaires in different contexts.

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