| One of the most common methods of data collection in second language
(L2) research is to use questionnaires of various kinds. The
popularity of questionnaires is due to the fact that they are easy to
construct, extremely versatile, and uniquely capable of gathering a
large amount of information quickly in a form that is readily processable.
Indeed, the frequency of use of self-completed questionnaires as
a research tool in the L2 field is surpassed only by that of language
proficiency tests.
In spite of the wide application of questionnaires in the L2 field,
there does not seem to be sufficient awareness in the profession about
the theory of questionnaire design and processing. The usual - and in
most cases false - perception is that anybody with a bit of common
sense can construct a good questionnaire. This situation resembles
somewhat the 'pre-scientific' phase of language testing (i. e., the period
before the 1950s) when language tests were used without paying
enough attention to their psychometric qualities, and every language
teacher was, by definition, assumed to be capable of devising and
grading tests and exams without any special training. It is my impression
that many questionnaire users are unaware of the fact that there is
considerable relevant knowledge and experience accumulated in various
branches of the social sciences (e. g., psychometrics, social
psychology, sociology). This is why it is all too common to find
studies which start out with exciting research questions but are flawed
by a badly designed or inadequately processed questionnaire. |
