My research is concerned with patterns of consensus formation in the
natural and social sciences, and I am sending out questionnaires to
sociologists, psychologists and biologists.
I would be extremely grateful for any responses.
The questionnaire below contains 40 questions, and it will take 5-10
minutes of your time.
It is directed at psychologists, specifically those engaged in research,
but non-psychologists are very welcome to respond. Could respondents
please state their discipline at the beginning of the questionnaire for
stratification purposes.
Please feel free to add any comments
Many Thanks
QUESTIONNAIRE
Could you complete all questions to the best of your ability. Please put
crosses or answer where appropriate.
1) What is your position?
a) Professor ___ b) Senior lecturer___ c) Lecturer ___
d) Research ___ e) Postgraduate ___ f) Other ___
2) What is your age?
3) Are you male___ or female___
4) How long have you been at your present university?
5) Would you say your university is;
a)research based ___
b)teaching based ___
c)a combination of the two___
d)other ___
6) Are you presently engaged in research? yes___ no___
If you answered no please straight to question 19
About your research
7) How long have you been engaged in research or working on your present
project?
8) How did you select your research problem?
a)independently___
b)with others ___
9) If you selected your research problem with others how
much collaboration did you have?
a)a great deal ___
b)moderate ___
c)little ___
10)Do you feel you are free to evaluate the results and
decide whether your results are valid?
yes___ no___
12)Do you feel that you are free to evaluate the results of others working
in the same research area?
yes___ no___
13)In terms of your research where do you feel you get the most support?
a)colleagues with shared specialities, in the same department ___
b)colleagues in a different department,in the same institution, with
shared specialities ___
c)members in a different institution with shared specialities ___
d)members in a different institution with different specialities ___
14)Is your research project funded by an organisation other than your
place of work?
yes___ no___
i)If yes, with whom did you collaborate in the process of your funding
application?
a)colleagues from the same department ___
b)colleagues from the same institution___
c)members of a different institution ___
15)When writing up research findings do you prefer to use:
a)the first person ___
b)the third person ___
16)How much importance do you attach to a code of ethics in your research?
a)great importance ___
b)some importance ___
c)no importance ___
17)How much importance do you attach to autobiographical factors, e.g.
researcher's own personal history, in the research process?
a)great importance ___
b)some importance ___
c)no importance ___
18)Do you think that the results of your research will help change
society?
yes___ no___
About your discipline
19)Would you say that some research projects in your discipline are over
funded?
a)yes___
b)sometimes___
c)never___
20)Would you say that some research projects in psychology are
irrelevant?
a)yes___
b)sometimes___
c)never___
21)Upon entering your discipline did you see it as a step to a permanent
job?
yes___ no___
22)How much significance do you attach to the history of psychology?
a)a lot ___
b)some ___
c)little___
23)Do you think that the goals and concepts of psychologists in the past are
consistent with present goals and concepts?
yes___ no___
24)Would you say that there is a crucial distinction between theory and
empirical investigation?
yes___ no___
i)If yes, would you say that more importance is attached to:
a) theory___ or b)empirical investigation?___
25)Do you think that changes in the content of psychology usually
imply changes in social structures in wider society?
yes___ no___
26)To what extent do you think that the intellectual products of
psychology are intelligible to a wider audience?
a)very little___
b)only in popularised accounts___
c)very much___
27)Do you find public disputes concerning psychology:
a)intolerable___
b)tolerable as long as the reputation of the discipline does not suffer___
c)tolerable and healthy___
28)If there is a conflict of goals within psychology do you think it is
necessary for the matter to be taken to a formal organisation?
yes___ no___
29)If you were involved in a controversial situation that threatened the
reputation and integrity of psychology would you withdraw from the
situation?
yes___ no___
30)If there is a controversial situation, do you think there could be a
chance that the dispute would be trivialised by the wider discipline?
yes___ no___
31)Again, in the event of a controversial situation, do you think it is
possible for the contention to be concealed?
yes___ no___
32)Do you think that increased specialisation of psychology could
lead to small groups being unaccountable to the larger community?
yes___ no___
About yourself
33)Do you belong to any professional organisation connected to your work?
yes___ no___
i)If yes do you participate in its activities e.g. workshops,
conferences etc.?
yes___ no___
34)Do you think that your ideas and experiences have been influenced by
certain religious beliefs or political ideologies e.g. Socialism,
Feminism, Buddhism, Libertarianism?
a)yes___
b)only slightly___
c)no___
35)At present do you belong to any political parties or do you have strong
political affiliations?
yes___ no___
36)In the past have you belonged to any political parties or had any
strong political affiliations?
yes___ no___
37)Do you practice a religion?
a)yes___
b)no,never___
c)I did but not any more___
38)Do you think sociologists' work is VERY MUCH enhanced if they have good
interpersonal skills outside of their working environment?
a)yes___
b)no, it's not important___
39)In general, do you think that practitioners of your discipline are
accountable to the wider public?
a)yes,always___
b)generally so,but there are exceptions___
c)rarely,and that is bad___
d)rarely,but it doesn't matter___
40)Please number in order of importance(1-5; 1 being the most important)
what you think is the most advantageous element of your work;
a)money___
b)achieving recognition___
c)having a direct bearing on peoples lives___
d)making a contribution to knowledge___
e)working on state-of-the-art projects and equipment___
Thank you for your co-operation.
Please give name,address,and contact number below if you are willing to be
interviewed at a later date.
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