Dissertation survey on character traits in different breeds of horse.

[JFTDWS]

Firstly, everything I mentioned in my original post WAS constructive and included suggestions of how the survey could have been conducted better, thus making my post both informative and helpful. Secondly, I simply will not say it's a good survey when it is terribly flawed. It is what it is, there are textbooks and websites detailing how to set up good questionnaires for this sort of research so there is NO excuse for ignorance. I have never taken classes in how to set up qualitative research questionnaires, I worked out those flaws from first principles, and if the OP is incapable of looking at her work objectively, she should not be doing it and does not deserve to pass her qualification (which I believe is not accredited to "real" university if it's McTimoney as stated in the first post so I'm sure it will be acceptable to them!). There is no excuse for bad science, and there is no reason why poor research practice should be accepted by any interested party. The OP chose to publicise her questionnaire online and as such must face the consequences.

 

[Martymoo]

Done - 2 horses on the one form but separated answers in the comments section- hope this is ok. I think I have a potentially evil horse (seems to be dominant from growing up in a herd with stallions) but I didn't tick evil - could do it, don't think its that bad yet ha ha. Good luck with your dissertation. These surveys are always hard as like you say no one would fill them in if they were too long. Ignore some and keep on taking the good feedback on board and changing/adding parts to your survey. I didn't even notice registered name, just opted for stable names - show names for mine are bit cringe worthy!!

Thank you so much

 

[Martymoo]

OP may I ask what university you're at? I'm in my 2nd year now, and we're being taught about questionairres, leading questions and qualitative data now - so that we get it right when we do our dissertations next year. As it is, it is all information I knew from 6th form. I just find it hard to believe that you may need to do a questionairre for your dissertation but your university have provided you with no resources on how to create a decent and scientific survey??

As a 4th year science student I can assure you that its a bit more technical than high school! lol

I am currently doing my dissertation and have never undertaken one lesson on carrying out questionnaires. If the OPs course is anything like mine, you are allowed to use any line of enquiry to carry out your research so its likely the OP has elected to carry it out using this technique. The main part of carrying out research is not only the answers that you get from participants but is how you go about it. In my experience at university you are not spoon fed this kind of stuff but you have to work it out yourself. OP- i found test piloting my questionnaire with a university class to obtain feedback before re-draughting it to use the most concise and accurate questions for your project. Also have a read of some questionnaire construction books from your uni library, that way you will be able to ask the most beneficial questions, best of luck[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much for your advice the course is not at a uni but is higher education so I have not gone through and done my A levels or gone through uni so this is all very new to me and you do not get spoon fed any thing every thing we have to do is off our own back. I have not studyed since doing my GCSE's and that was a while ago lol.
I do appriciated constructive critisism and will re look at my survey but it is only a very small part of my dissertation and you can not be scientific with charator traits it is very subjective.
Thanks again for your advice

 

[Martymoo]

Firstly, everything I mentioned in my original post WAS constructive and included suggestions of how the survey could have been conducted better, thus making my post both informative and helpful. Secondly, I simply will not say it's a good survey when it is terribly flawed. It is what it is, there are textbooks and websites detailing how to set up good questionnaires for this sort of research so there is NO excuse for ignorance. I have never taken classes in how to set up qualitative research questionnaires, I worked out those flaws from first principles, and if the OP is incapable of looking at her work objectively, she should not be doing it and does not deserve to pass her qualification (which I believe is not accredited to "real" university if it's McTimoney as stated in the first post so I'm sure it will be acceptable to them!). There is no excuse for bad science, and there is no reason why poor research practice should be accepted by any interested party. The OP chose to publicise her questionnaire online and as such must face the consequences.

I do appreciate the advice and will take it on board. It is not a Scientific study, I dont think a study on charactor traits can be scientific as it is very subjective like you said. I did not say that I was at a university this is a course that I am doing off of my own back along side my full time job as part of our qualification we have to complete a dissertation but we also have to complete numerous other parts including the practical. To be totally honest you do not know me so I do not think you are in a position to say if I should pass or not as you do not even know what the course content is.
Thank you for your advice I will take it on board

 

[TallyHo123]

I have done it and never thought about the reg. name thing. I wish I had, although Cappy's reg. name is different because his was Dutch and unpronounceable. Still maybe you should change that question.
FDC

Ditto this, I have filled in in but never thought about the reg name. Damn

 

[JFTDWS]

I do appreciate the advice and will take it on board. It is not a Scientific study, I dont think a study on charactor traits can be scientific as it is very subjective like you said. I did not say that I was at a university this is a course that I am doing off of my own back along side my full time job as part of our qualification we have to complete a dissertation but we also have to complete numerous other parts including the practical. To be totally honest you do not know me so I do not think you are in a position to say if I should pass or not as you do not even know what the course content is.
Thank you for your advice I will take it on board

Aspects of psychology are focussed on character traits, and are studies are done both scientifically and well. So just for the record, a subjective area (like character) can be approached scientifically. I think your definition of science is too narrow - anything which reports these sorts of data is a scientific study of sorts, whether it be for a dissertation or a publication - and often dissertation results form the basis of publications. If you'll observe, my phrasing was that "if the OP cannot look at her research objectively, she ... does not deserve to pass" which is an objective statement not saying that you do not deserve to, but that if you cannot take the criticism given here and use it to improve your work, then you do not deserve to pass. Clearly, you state here that you will take the advice from all of the above posters and try to improve on this, which is a good thing, and is ultimately why the advice was offered. Therefore, good luck with your qualification, and bear in mind that if you need any further advice on these sorts of issues, you can always post on here before actually doing the work (e.g. setting up questionnaires etc) if you wish...

 

[honetpot]

Perhaps this survey should be taylored to horse owners and posters on here as some of them do appear to have the charecter traits listed, good and bad.