Is it just me that finds the wording of some of the questions in the
Taking Part survey a little unsatisfactory? For example:
During the last 12 months, have you used a public library service at
least once?
INTERVIEWER: IF NECESSARY USE 'DEFINITIONS CARD' FOR DEFINITION OF
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Would most people not assume that this would mean visiting the PHYSICAL
library? The definitions do, I believe, include library website, email,
mobile library etc, but how many people who emailed the library would
think that this is what the question actually meant? I'm sure most
people wouldn't ask for clarification as the question appears, at first,
to be straightforward. I notice in previous surveys too that they used
to include this explanation as part of the question rather than making
it an optional extra. Surely this therefore negates the value of the
data in a longitudinal sense?
Ian Clark
Library Systems Officer,
Augustine House,
Canterbury Christ Church University
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel. 01227 767700 ext 3141
|