QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

The BasicsThe Basics

IntroductionIntroduction

Questionnaires are a vital part of Questionnaires are a vital part of primary researchprimary research

They are quick, efficient and easy to They are quick, efficient and easy to useuse

The results of a questionnaire will be The results of a questionnaire will be vital to your researchvital to your research

A good questionnaire is not hard to A good questionnaire is not hard to designdesign

To start with…To start with…

You need to be confident about what You need to be confident about what you are hoping to use the you are hoping to use the questionnaire data to discoverquestionnaire data to discover

This knowledge guides the design of This knowledge guides the design of your questionsyour questions

Be confident you can access your Be confident you can access your samplesample

Consider sample size and reliabilityConsider sample size and reliability

TipsTips

A questionnaire shouldn’t be too longA questionnaire shouldn’t be too long Use plain EnglishUse plain English Test your questionnaireTest your questionnaire Make your questions simple and Make your questions simple and

straightforwardstraightforward

Designing questionsDesigning questions

When devising your questions When devising your questions consider the following:consider the following:

What is essential to know? What is essential to know? what would be useful to know? what would be useful to know? What would be unnecessary? What would be unnecessary? Retain the former, keep the useful to Retain the former, keep the useful to

a minimum and discard the rest. a minimum and discard the rest.

Questionnaire design continuedQuestionnaire design continued

The issues raised in one question can The issues raised in one question can influence how people think about influence how people think about subsequent questions. subsequent questions.

It is good to ask a general question It is good to ask a general question and then ask more specific and then ask more specific questions. questions.

Open QuestionsOpen Questions An open question allows your respondents An open question allows your respondents

to elaborate on their answer.to elaborate on their answer. A response to an open question can allow A response to an open question can allow

for more variety in responses and also for more variety in responses and also more depthmore depth

If there are an excessive number of If there are an excessive number of written response questions, it reduces the written response questions, it reduces the quality and attention the respondents give quality and attention the respondents give to the answers. to the answers.

Also the less open questions the less Also the less open questions the less information you have to sift throughinformation you have to sift through

Closed QuestionsClosed Questions

A question that allows a limited A question that allows a limited responseresponse

Can be multiple-choice options, not Can be multiple-choice options, not just yes, no or don’t know.just yes, no or don’t know.

These allow for questionnaires to be These allow for questionnaires to be filled in quickly and also the results filled in quickly and also the results to be correlated efficiently.to be correlated efficiently.

Introduce your questionnaireIntroduce your questionnaire You may still need to motivate people to

complete your questionnaire. Write a few lines to introduce your survey. Your

introduction should be short and includes: – Purpose of the survey

– Why it is important to hear from the respondent

– What may be done with the results and what possible impacts may occur with the results.

– Person to contact for questions about the survey.

– Due date for response

What next…?What next…? Who has the information you need or who Who has the information you need or who

has access to it?has access to it? Consider the sample size and access to Consider the sample size and access to

the sample.the sample. Will your sample be willing to talk? (Put Will your sample be willing to talk? (Put

questions in the third person)questions in the third person) Will it be paper-based or web-forum Will it be paper-based or web-forum

based?based? Once your questionnaire has been Once your questionnaire has been

designed and tested you must carry it out.designed and tested you must carry it out. Interpret your results.Interpret your results.