Which term describes data collection that uses fixed response options for survey items?

Which term describes data collection that uses fixed response options for survey items?

• A. Open-ended questions
• B. Closed-ended questions
• C. Unobtrusive measures
• D. Archives (unobtrusive)

Answer: (B)

Focusing on fixed response options is about closed-ended questions in surveys. When every item presents a predefined set of choices, all respondents choose from the same set, so the data are uniform and easy to code and quantify. This standardization makes analysis straightforward—counts, percentages, cross-tabulations, and scaling (like Likert scales) become simple because each response maps to a consistent option. It also helps reduce interviewer variability since the possible answers are fixed. In contrast, open-ended questions let people write their own answers, which can capture nuance but require more effort to code and categorize. The other data collection approaches mentioned—unobtrusive measures and archives—don’t involve giving respondents fixed options in a survey; they rely on indirect observation or existing records. So the data collection described by fixed response options aligns with closed-ended questions.

Focusing on fixed response options is about closed-ended questions in surveys. When every item presents a predefined set of choices, all respondents choose from the same set, so the data are uniform and easy to code and quantify. This standardization makes analysis straightforward—counts, percentages, cross-tabulations, and scaling (like Likert scales) become simple because each response maps to a consistent option. It also helps reduce interviewer variability since the possible answers are fixed.

In contrast, open-ended questions let people write their own answers, which can capture nuance but require more effort to code and categorize. The other data collection approaches mentioned—unobtrusive measures and archives—don’t involve giving respondents fixed options in a survey; they rely on indirect observation or existing records. So the data collection described by fixed response options aligns with closed-ended questions.