Initially the consideration of the type of wording and order in which questions appear is important. Clear wording of questions with simple terms are more likely to be understood by the participants and thus can improve the validity of the questionnaire. Due to the mixed method approach (which include the processes of qualitative analysis) along with the time restraints of the Surrey dissertation the researcher has decided to populate the questionnaire with closed questions, “provid[ing] a number of alternative answers from which the respondent is instructed to choose” (deVaus, 1991). This has added benefits of easier to compare results. Youngman (1989) identifies six types of close questions; the researcher has decided to use:
- Scale questions-in which a scaling device is used to record responses. This technique is often used to collect data about the respondent’s attitudes and beliefs. Using a five point Likert-style rating scale participants were asked how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement.
Reliability
“The reliability of scale indicates how free it is from random error” (Pallant, 2013). Two indicators of this are: temporal stability; and internal consistency. High temporal stability is the ability to obtain correlated and related results even if 2 different people collect data on two different occasions. The fidelity of repeatable research is important to a scientific method but one must also take into consideration the nature of the construct that the scale is measuring. Research designed to measure current mood states is not likely to remain static over time especially in the dynamic environment of technology such as Bitcoin which is further compounded by other fluid factors present in the: political; economical; social; and technological (PEST) environment.
“To ensure that the data collected will enable the research questions to be answered and the objectives achieved. A data requirements table was created (Saunders et al, 2009).
Requirements table
|
Investigative questions |
Type of variable |
Variables required |
Detail in which data measured |
Question number |
| General characteristics of Bitcoin users | Attributes | Age, gender, education, Internet habits, location, Current views on Bitcoin, Personal shopping habits, Bitcoin spending and accepting habits, | Various | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16 |
| Intent of use of Bitcoin- TAM | Attitudes | Attitude regarding the use, ease of use and current state of Bitcoin in the participants life | Definitely no/I don’t know, somewhat know, maybe, somewhat yes, definitely yes | 8 |
| Sentiments regarding Bitcoin | Attitudes | The reason behind the personal use of Bitcoin (4 possibilities were explored) | Not the reason, a week reason, somewhat the reason, a strong reason, a major reason | 15 |
| Perceived usefulness-TAM | Attitudes | Beliefs regarding the perceived usefulness of Bitcoin: currently or in the future | Definitely no/I don’t know, somewhat know, maybe, somewhat yes, definitely yes | 8, 10 |
| Perceived ease of use-TAM | Attitudes | Beliefs regarding the perceived usefulness of Bitcoin: currently or in the future | Definitely no/I don’t know, somewhat know, maybe, somewhat yes, definitely yes | 8, 10 |
| Extra factors regarding the use of Bitcoin, that were not explored in TAM (1986) or Salo’s model (2007) | Attitudes | Attitudes on technology, safety and the longevity of Bitcoin (factors that where identified in literature review) | No way, somewhat know, maybe, somewhat yes, definitely yes | 17 |
Table 3 Questionnaire design, requirements table
Internal consistency
Internal consistency is the degree to which questions that make up the scale are all measuring the same underlying attribute the most common used statistical analysis is Cronbach’s coefficient alpha which ranges from 0 to 1. Nunnally (1978) states that a coefficient of at least 0.7 is necessary for internal consistency in a large set of items. In this research were the number of items is quite small so internal consistency can be looked at with the mean inter-item correlation whose ideal values range from 0.2 to 0.4 (Briggs & Cheek, 1986).
Next section: https://jl00282.wordpress.com/dissertation-part-2/customers-perspective/quantitative-methodology/summary/
The New Exchange 