Open-Ended Course Evaluations: A Response Rate Problem?

Autor/in	Darby, Jenny A.
Titel	Open-Ended Course Evaluations: A Response Rate Problem?
Quelle	In: Journal of European Industrial Training, 31 (2007) 5, S.402-412 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0309-0590
DOI	10.1108/03090590710756828
Schlagwörter	Research Methodology; Course Evaluation; Response Rates (Questionnaires); Test Validity; Test Format; Test Construction; Response Style (Tests); Evaluation Problems; Undergraduate Students; Participant Satisfaction; Foreign Countries + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Research method; Forschungsmethode; Antwortkontrolle; Testvalidität; Testentwicklung; Testaufbau; Antwortverhalten; Ausland
Abstract	Purpose--The purpose of this research is to examine participants' response rate on dual style training course evaluation forms. These combine structured and open-ended formats. Pencil and paper forms have a long history of use by trainers in business and commerce and more recently in education. Research methods texts tend to have neglected the issue of response rates with this type of form. Design/methodology/approach--Approximately 2,000 course participants attending 28 courses completed evaluation forms. These were designed with a series of structured responses scales followed by a section for open-ended comments. Findings--It was found that the completion rate for the open-ended sections was low and thus validity was suspect. Various explanations were offered for this. Subsequently when a redesigned evaluation form was administered to a further 1,641 course participants it was found that response rates increased dramatically when open-ended sections were placed earlier in the questionnaire. Practical implications--Indicates ways in which course evaluation forms can be redesigned to increase response rates for open-ended sections and thus improve the validity of any findings. Originality/value--Provides information about response rates neglected by most methodology texts concerning the design of training evaluation questionnaires which include open-ended sections. (Contains 5 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Emerald. 875 Massachusetts Avenue 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139. Tel: 888-622-0075; Fax: 617-354-6875; e-mail: america@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emeraldinsight.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10