QUESTIONNAIRES

2 of 43

Designing a questionnaire

When designing you own questionnaire you should try to follow these rules:

1) Provide an introduction, so that the person filling in the questionnaire knows the purpose of your enquiry.

2) Write questions in a sensible order, putting easier questions first.

It is important to design a questionnaire so that:

People will co-operate and answer the questions honestly.

The answers to the questions can be analysed and presented.

3 of 43

Designing a questionnaire

3) Make sure that questions are not embarrassing or personal.

For example, you need to think carefully about questions asking about age or income.

Do not ask : How old are you?

A better question is : Tick one box for your age group.

15-20 21-25 26-30 31 +

4 of 43

Designing a questionnaire

For example :

People could answer :

Yes

No

Not much

Only the best bits

Once a day

Sometimes

4) If possible, write questions so that they have a specific answer.

Did you see the Olympics on TV ?

5 of 43

Designing a questionnaire

A better question would be:

How much of the Olympics coverage did you watch?Tick one box only.

None

Less than 1 hour a day

Between 1 to 2 hours a day

More than 2 hours a day

Every eventuality has been accounted for and the person answering the question cannot give another choice.

6 of 43

How would you rate the leisure facilities available in your local area? Tick one box only.

Designing a questionnaire

A scale can be used when asking for an opinion.

For example,

Excellent UnsatisfactoryPoorSatisfactoryGood

7 of 43

Designing a questionnaire

5) Do not ask leading questions.

For example, this question conveys a particular opinion,

A better question is :

Which one of the following sports do you like the best?

football rugby tennis golf cricket boxing

Don’t you agree that football is the best sport?

8 of 43

Suggest a better question

How much do you weigh?

This is too personal, also some people don’t know their weight.

Underweight Average weight Overweight

Would you consider yourself to be:

A better question would be:

9 of 43

Suggest a better question

Most people use a deodorant, do you ?

Which make of deodorant do you use ?

Male:

Female: Sure Impulse Dove Other None

Lynx OtherAdidas Slazenger None

Please circle any that apply.

This is a leading question and may offend people.

A more useful question would be:

10 of 43

Suggest a better question

The intervals given overlap. Also, if a person has read more than 6 books there is nowhere to tick.

A better question would be:

How many books did you read last month?Tick one box.

0-2 3-5 6-8 8+

How many books did you read last month?

0-2 2-4 4-6

11 of 43

Trialling a questionnaire

Once you have written a questionnaire it is a good idea to try it out on a small sample of people. This is called a pilot survey.Note down their responses and use these to refine any questions that are causing difficulty.

Do I use a tick or a cross to show the box

I want?

What does this question mean?

I don’t want to answer this question because

it’s too personal.

There isn’t a box to cover my answer.