Qualities of Good Survey Questions

1. Qualities of Good Survey Questions

2. Evokes the Truth • Questions must be non-threatening. • When a respondent is concerned about the consequences of answering a question in a particular manner, there is a good possibility that the answer will not be truthful. • Anonymous questionnaires that contain no identifying information are more likely to produce honest responses than those identifying the respondent.

3. Can Accommodate All Possible Answers. • Multiple choice items are the most popular type of survey questions because they are generally the easiest for a respondent to answer and the easiest to analyze. • Asking a question that does not accommodate all possible responses can confuse and frustrate the respondent.

4. Consider the question: • How often do you smoke marijuana?A. DailyB. Weekly C. Monthly • Clearly, there are many problems with this question. What if the respondent never smokes marijuana?

5. There are two ways to correct this kind of problem. • Do you smoke marijuana? circle: Yes or No).

6. Another way to correct the problem is to add the necessary response categories and allow multiple responses • How often do you smoke marijuana? • __ Do not smoke marijuana • __Every Day • __Once a week • __Twice a week • __Three or four times a week • __Five or six times a week • __Once a month

7. Leaves No Ambiguity in the Mind of the Respondent. • Where are you when you smoke marijuana? Circle all that apply. • A.School. • B.My Home. • C.On the street. • D Friend’s house.

8. Allow Differences Between Respondents • Are you against legalization of marijuana? (circle: Yes or No).

9. Does Not Presuppose a Certain State of Affairs • An example of this type of mistake is: • Do you agree that marijuana should be legalized in Canada? (Yes or No). • This question will present a problem for someone who does not have an opinion.

10. Write your questions so they apply to everyone. This often means simply adding an additional response category. • Do you agree that marijuana should be legalized in Canada? • ___ Yes___ No___ Don't have an opinion.

11. If there is any possibility that the respondent may not know the answer to your question, include a "don't know" or “undecided” response category. • Are you in favor of legalization of marijuana? • ___ Yes___ No. • ___Undecided. • ___Don’t know.

12. Provide a Meaningful Scale • The end points of response scales must be anchored with meaningful labels. • For example. • "Please rate your satisfaction with current laws regarding marijuana use in Canada.” • 1 means 'Very Satisfied' and 5 means 'Very Dissatisfied.'

13. Three Things to Remember When Constructing a Response Scale. • First, an odd number of points provides a middle alternative. This is a good way to provide respondents with moderate opinions a way out (similar to the "Don’t Know," choice).  . • Secondly, if measuring extreme opinions is critical, use a scale with a greater number of points. • Finally, you generally gain nothing by having a scale with more than 7 points. .

14. Your Task • Design a survey questionnaire • No more than three questions • Show your questions to me before you type them • Type your questions • Copy and paste so that there are at least three copies on one page