"Questionnaire" and "Schedule" --Explain the difference.

S.No

Questionnaire

Schedule

1.

Questionnaire is generally sent through mail to informants to be answered as specified in a covering letter, but otherwise without further assistance from the sender.

A schedule is generally filled by the research worker or enumerator, who can interpret the questions when necessary.

2.

Data collection is cheap and economical as the money is spent in preparation of questionnaire and in mailing the same to respondents.

Data collection is more expensive as money is spent on enumerators and in imparting trainings to them. Money is also  spent in preparing schedules.

3.

Non response is usually high as many people do not respond and many return the questionnaire without answering all questions. Bias due to non response often remains indeterminate.

Non response is very low because this is filled by enumerators who are able to get answers to all questions. But even in this their remains the danger of interviewer bias and cheating.

4.

It is not clear that who replies.

Identity of respondent is not known.

5.

The questionnaire method is likely to be very slow since many respondents do not return the questionnaire.

Information is collected well in time as they are filled by enumerators.

6.

No personal contact is possible in case of questionnaire as the questionnaires are sent to respondents by post who also in turn returns the same by post.

Direct personal contact is established

7.

This method can be used only when respondents are literate and cooperative.

The information can be gathered even when the respondents happen to be illiterate.

8.

Wider and more representative distribution of sample is possible.

There remains the difficulty in sending enumerators over a relatively wider area.

9.

Risk of collecting incomplete and wrong information is relatively more under the questionnaire method, when people are unable to understand questions properly.

The information collected is generally complete and accurate as enumerators can remove difficulties if any faced by respondents in correctly understanding the questions. As a result the information collected through schedule is relatively more accurate than that obtained through questionnaires.

10.

The success of questionnaire methods lies more on the quality of the questionnaire itself.

It depends upon the honesty and competence of enumerators

11.

The physical appearance of questionnaire must be quite attractive.

This may not be the case as schedules are to be filled in by enumerators and not by respondents.

12.

This is not possible when collecting data through questionnaire.

Along with schedule observation method can also be used.

Questionnaires are sets of items needing answers while schedules are sets of tasks with specific timelines of achievement. 

Schedule

1. Schedule is filled by a person employed, who are specially appointed for this purpose.

2. In schedule there is no chance of non-respons.

3. Scheduler is scheduled events or plans to be executed on specific days or dates.

Questionnaire

1. Questionnaire is filled by informants.

2. In questionnaire, if the questions are complex, there are chance of non-response.

3. Questionnaire is the list or series of questions prepared to be asked.