Techniques for Research on Factors Affecting the Utilization of Women in Non-Traditional Roles. Volume I.

摘要

This study compared and contrasted questionnaire types to discover the format most effective for a future Army-wide survey concerning attitudes toward the roles of women. Methodological issues involved (1) comparison of Likert style (presents respondents with an assertion with which they are asked to agree or disagree with varying intensity) and Multiple Choice style (presents respondents with questions to be answered by choosing from among four or five alternatives). Second, marking responses in the traditional method (circling desired alternative response) versus OPSCAN answer sheets (which are separate from questionnaire booklets). Third, a dispersed version of the questionnaire was tested against a compact version. Fourth, on half the questionnaires respondents were asked about men first; on the remaining half, questions were asked about women first. Significantly, minor manipulations of format and style did not greatly influence respondents' answers. The study was also designed to yield preliminary data bearing on substantive attitudinal questions. Most respondents felt that women had an important role to play in the Army. By far, the majority of respondents thought that a company could do a better job at full strength with women than below strength without women. (Author)