Designing effective survey

• Survey questions should be easy to understand and hard to misinterpret

  
• To write good questions, use common language, clearly defined terms, mostly closed questions, include demographic questions, use precise language, ensure validity and reliability

  
• Avoid double-barreled, leading, biased, loaded, repetitive, and personal questions
• When gathering demographic information, consider the role of age, gender, education level, income level, size of household, length of employment, and if comparing responses from different groups
• Sequencing questions: group similar questions, put in logical order, place demographic questions at the beginning, sensitive or difficult questions at the end, open-ended questions at the end
• Types of questionnaire questions include Yes/No, True-False, Multiple Choice, Agree/Disagree Scale, Ranking, Rating, and Checklist questions
• Tips for questionnaires: limit question types, clear-cut answer choices, easy navigation, non-overlapping response categories, cover all possibilities
• Example of overlapping response categories: "How many credit hours have you completed at ___? 1-25, 26-55, 56-85, 85 or more"
• When revising a questionnaire, ensure all desired questions are included, answers help make recommendations, questions are unbiased, clear, and logically arranged, the questionnaire is neat, uncluttered, edited, easy for respondents to complete quickly
• Testing the questionnaire before distribution is crucial to avoid mistakes that could harm credibility as a researcher