Pretesting is a very important step in survey research.

It is an absolutely necessary step to

ensure all kinds of errors that are associated with survey research are reduced. It helps to
improve the quality of data significantly. Pretesting is done on a small sample of
respondents from the target population. After the pilot test, both the interviewer(s) and
respondents are asked a series of questions regarding the survey as well as the process of
data collection during the debriefing session. Such debriefing sessions can help detect
any problem with the questionnaire design leading to ambiguity of words,
misinterpretation of questions, inability to answer a question, sensitive questions, and
many other problems associated with the questionnaire as well as the process of
administering the survey. It also provides an opportunity to give feedback to the
interviewer to ensure that she/he follows the proper protocol of data collection procedures
to ensure objectivity in data collection.
Pamela Grimm, Wiley International Encyclopedia of Marketing, John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd. Copyright 2011 [ISBN: 9781444316568]
No matter how carefully researchers design a data-collection instruments such as
questionnaire, there is always the possibility-indeed the certainty of error. The researchers
will always make some mistake: write an ambiguous question, or one that people cannot
answer, or commit some other violation. The surest protection against such errors is to
pretest the questionnaire in full or in part.
Earl Babbie, The Practice of Social Research 14th Edition, Nelson Education, Ltd.
Copyright 2015 [ISBN: 978-1-305-10494-5]