Collecting personal information
Opinion is divided about where personal information should be included on a questionnaire. I tend to include it at the end, as I believe people are more likely to fill in this information when they have already invested time and energy in completing the rest of the form. As the re- searcher, you need to think about collecting only that type of personal information which is completely relevant to your research. Be sensitive to the type of information peo- ple will be reluctant to give. An example of a personal profile section is provided in Fig.1. This form may seem short, but it is important not to ask for too much personal information as respondents will become suspicious and want to know why you want the information. You also need to assure them that you understand and will comply with the Data Protection Act (see Chapter 13).