2 of 43 designing a questionnaire when designing you own questionnaire you should try to follow...
TRANSCRIPT
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.