Appendix 5.2: An example of coding
Here is a simple coding scheme for the beginning of the questionnaire shown in Chapter 2; lots of others could have been devised. The answers to the ‘test’ part of the questionnaire (the questions on prayer, in the example) do not need any special coding. They can be entered onto the computer database just as they were given. Most of the answers to the first part of the questionnaire, which deals with background, social-demographic, information need to be coded before they can be entered onto the computer. Some coding is provided in which some variables like marital status, details of children, occupation and religious membership have been reduced to simple 0/1 dichotomies, to make statistics more straightforward, but you may wish to use a more elaborate categorisation and reduce it later. If you do use a more elaborate categorisation, look in Table A5.3 for instructions on how to recode.
Table A5.2 shows the answers, and their coded versions, of a hypothetical participant on this first part of the questionnaire.
Table A5.2 Sample questionnaire
QUESTIONNAIRE ON PRAYER
We are studying peoples views on the uses of prayer.
Your answers to the following questions would be very helpful.Your answers will be confidential and anonymous, identified only by a code number. You need not answer any questions that you would prefer to leave unanswered.
Thank you.
Date(Do not code)
Your age(Enter as given)
Male/Female(1 = male, 0 = female)
Current marital status (Circle one): (Code 1 if currently in stable relationship: married, engaged or cohabiting, 0 otherwise)
Married (1)
Engaged (1)
Single (0)
Cohabiting (1)
Divorced (0)
Widowed (0)
Separated (0)
Number of children, if any(Enter as given)
Their ages_________________
(Code 1 if any under 18 years, 0 otherwise)
Your occupation
(Code 1 if earning, 0 otherwise)
If married, your spouse s occupation
(Code 1 if earning, 0 otherwise)
Do you regard yourself as spiritual?(Yes = 1, No = 0)
Do you belong to any church, mosque or synagogue?(Yes = 1, No = 0) How often do you attend? (Circle one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
(daily = 4, weekly = 3, monthly = 2, occasionally = 1, never = 0)
How often do you pray? (Circle one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
(daily = 4, weekly = 3, monthly = 2, occasionally = 1, never = 0)
Table A5.2 (Continued) Sample Questionnaire
How often do you study religious texts? (Circle one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
(daily = 4, weekly = 3, monthly = 2, occasionally = 1, never = 0)
Table A5.3 Sample coding
ID 1
Your age 22
Male/Female male 1
Current marital status (underline one):
Married
Engaged
Single
Cohabiting
Divorced
Widowed
Separated 0
Number of children, if any 0
Their ages 0
Your occupation student 0
If married, your spouse s occupation
Do you regard yourself as spiritual? Yes 1
Do you belong to any church, mosque or synagogue? No 0
How often do you attend? (underline one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
1
How often do you pray? (underline one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
Tabic A5.3 (Continued) Sample coding
How often do you study religious texts? (underline one)
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally
Never
1
