Which of the following is a disadvantage of questionnaires?

The disadvantage of questionnaires lies primarily in the risk of misinterpretation of questions by respondents. When questions are presented in written form, there is no opportunity for the researcher to clarify or rephrase queries if a respondent does not understand them. This can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate responses, as different individuals might interpret the same question in varying ways, impacting the validity of the collected data.

For instance, if a question is vague or uses terminology that some respondents may not fully grasp, their answers may not truly reflect their views or experiences. This lack of clarity undermines the reliability of the data obtained from questionnaires, as it can skew results away from the intended inquiry.

Conversely, a high response rate is typically seen as an advantage, indicating that many individuals are willing to participate which can enhance the robustness of the data. Direct interaction with respondents, as experienced in interviews, allows for real-time clarification and follow-up questions, thus providing deeper insights. Meanwhile, in-depth personal interviews are also advantageous for collecting nuanced information. These factors highlight the key disadvantage of questionnaires, emphasizing the importance of clear communication in survey design.