Hello Thoriq

I understand you wish to develop previous questionnaires to your own research question, which is more than fine :) nevertheless, be careful not to just develop what you see but ask yourself, what you seek to find out and then decide about a) your instrument and b) your own questions. Then c) I recommend you search for past research and find out how your own questions match with previous research. Then identify where you extent previous research and where you seek to follow it. Hope that helps.

Hi Thoriq,

Some previous research questionnaires meant to be adopted whereas some meant to be adapted.  For those meant to be adopted, researchers might need to pay for the usage of the questionnaire and once data were collected, need to send to the organization which own the questionnaire for analysis.  You might not allowed to change but rather adopt those questionnaire.  For some other questionnaire that you want to adapt / localize for your research use, you need to justify why in your research method section of your article or thesis e.g. due to relevant localized condition, adapting the use from different disciplines / industries etc.  Moreover, it is good practice / sometimes required to communicate with the questionnaire / instrument owner for approval to adopt / adapt their instrument.

Regards,

Fung

Sorry 1 more point, for those survey questionnaire / instrument that we have adapted, we need to conduct the required reliability & validity tests & meet their requirements.

Hi Sandra Schlick and Han Ping Fung, Thank You for the answers. Sandra maybe gave me recommendation to looking for the past research that more similar with my research, is that right? The problem is in the past questionnaire, from the 10 questions only there 1 question that in my opinion and the condition was not match. In this case, what should I do? Improve by reject the '1' question or improve to current condition?

Han Ping Fung, Is it not enough by I attach the source/citation of the questionnaire in my research? If the condition like that, I need more effort to contact the writer or organizations because the past research was too old.

I would not construct my questionnaire that way, sorry Thoriq. First, we discuss just theory and we all - other than you - have no idea, what you are "researching" :) so, first you need to have a clear idea, what you want to find out, just matching answers with previous literature does not help you at all, as you say. For previous work - questionnaire, you normally refer to constructs, so, you do not care if they ask the same way as you do e.g. wording. Thus, check if you find constructs e.g. for "success", "likelyhood to buy" etc. Ask yourself, which main topics you are investigating.

Thank You Sandra, I'd better understand because of Your explanation :)

Hi Thoriq,

Citing the sources where you adopt / adapt their survey instrument is given i.e. we need to do that.  Albeit some universities may not required you to get approval from the original owner of the instrument, It is good / safe to do that as some universities need to see those email approvals & hence why some PhD graduates attached them as part of their theses appendices.  Moreover, seeking approval will cover yourself from; in case being "reported" by someones that you didn't seek approval before using others' instrument.  My experience in this was that they are very helpful & prompt in giving me approval.  Of course some will not reply, not contactable or no longer available etc. in which I keep those emails reminders as supporting documents in case I need to justify myself.

Regarding your comment that 1 out of 10 survey questions is irrelevant in the context of your research, you can discard or rephrase etc as needed but need to justify what prompted you to take that decision - or you can cite some literature that some scholars had taken those decisions when they were in your similar situation.  Wishing you all the best.

Regards,

Fung

Thank You Mr. Han Ping Fung, one of my dream is to be PhD student and I very respect with the way to reach it. Thank You for share this knowledge Mr Han, it was very helpful.

Yes, it is possible but it wll be easier for you to look at your conceptual framework and construct your questionnaire from there. The questions that you will ask in  your survey instrument should provide answers to the questions in your research.

I agree with Lourdes. It seems more natural to work from your own concepts and identify the issues you want to work on. Working from secondary sources forces you in directions you may do not even want to treat in your thesis.