Surveys are applied to acquire empirical data about facts, behavior and action, knowledge, attitude, values, beliefs and opinions from the pre-determined study population (Hirsjärvi et al. 2009, 197). According to the purpose of our study, the meaning was to gather nurses‘ opinions, experiences, feelings and beliefs of the topic of
interest. In this chapter, we take a closer look at the development process of a current survey which stages (Figure 4) can be divided into three different phases: (1) development, (2) testing and (3) data collection phases.
FIGURE 4. The process of developing the questionnaire from the research problems to the actual data collection.
At the development stage (1), the requirement for the successful survey is that the researcher is familiar with the research phenomena and can categorize and classify the response scales for survey questions (Alkula et al. 1994, 120). A development of the questionnaire was started after a careful review of the available literature and pre-established studies according to the actual research questions (1.2). The questionnaire can be developed by using some previously validated and published surveys or by applying parts of pre-existing survey questions to the survey like was also done in this study (Boynton & Greenhalgh 2004). The purpose of using an earlier established survey question was to increase the content reliability of research when they have earlier acknowledged being reliable and validated. Also, when using pre-existing survey questions, we had the possibility to compare the research findings with those from other studies. In this research, we applied survey questions, for instance, from the studies and surveys from WAI (Tuomi et al. 1992), FinTerveys (2017) and FinSote (2018) by National Institute of Welfare and Health (THL), ―Work and well-being 2012 –interview study‖ by FIOH (Perkiö-Mäkelä & Hirvonen 2013), NORDCARE-researches (Kröger et al. 2009 & Kröger et al. 2018), ATH-research by THL (2014), the study by Perkiö-Mäkelä (2016), ―Rasittuneisyyskysely‖ by FIOH and the study conducted by the Finnish Union of Practical nurses (Erkkilä. et al. 2012) The full list of the authors and studies applied for the survey can be seen in the Appendix 2.
1. Development
As the content of the questionnaire was developed, the questionnaire was transformed in an electronic form by utilizing Webropol 3.0 survey tool. With electronic format questionnaire it is easier and cheaper to reach large numbers of the population who are located far away from each other than with paper-based questionnaire. Also, by using the electronic survey, the data is captured and verified at the same moment when the respondents answer the questions. (Vilkka 2007, 28) The web-based questionnaires are nowadays and, in the future, arousing the interest, because a majority of the population has internet access. Also, electronic questionnaires are, on principle, easy and simple to answer (McMahon et al. 2003, 303). The study population was gathered from all parts of Finland and therefore, an electronic questionnaire was the most appropriate and the easiest way of getting empirical data from a large amount of graduating practical nurses.
Also, the researcher believed that young population nowadays prefers to participate in web-based questionnaires than taking part in paper-based surveys. According to those issues, the electronic questionnaire was acknowledged as the most suitable data collection strategy.
During development of the survey, it is important to notice the clarity and understandability of the survey questions, the amount of asked questions, their order and use of wording. Also, a questionnaire should be tested (stage 2) before its actual research use, so that the possible mistakes and improvements can be implemented.
(Hirsjärvi et al. 2013, 202-204) The pre-testing may be completed in two different stages: first, colleagues, friends and family members can help to ensure the right wording and understandability of the questions. Secondly, the pretesting is aimed to be evaluated by the actual study population of interest. If the researcher must make notable changes after the pre-test, the pre-testing should be completed once again. (Robson 2002, 254) In the study, the questionnaire was tested before its actual research use among 18 persons who consisted of family members, friends, practical nurses and one worker of the Super tested the questionnaire. Also, the Webropol questionnaire was also assessed by the thesis supervisors. As Heikkilä (1999, 60) points out the actual pilot group does not need to represent a high number of people, if the test group is actively giving improvement ideas and feedback about the research instrument. According to that, the researcher encouraged the pilot group to remain critical during filling out the
even with the slightest degree of uncertainty. After the test period, the researcher made minor modifications in the survey according to the received feedback from the pilot group. Especially, the clarity of the questions was promoted after the test period because some participants in the pilot group expressed to be unsure how to answer for the questions.
The following issues were considered and improved after the test period:
The understandability and clarity of the questions
The clarity of answering with or without decimals
Writing mistakes
The logical order and numbering of the questions
Response scales for the question number 5 (a type of work contract)
After making the corrections according to the received feedback and comments, the researcher checked carefully that the made modifications were successful and no other modifications need to be implemented. Because the conducted improvements were not significant, the second round of testing was not crucial. Also, the average length to administer the entire instrument was tested with the test-group which was on average around 10 minutes. The respond time was acknowledged as adequate because the pilot group perceived not get to get exhausted when filling out the questionnaire. The average length of answering was also informed in the cover letter which was submitted to graduating practical nurses who were members of Super (Appendix 3).