QUESTIONNAIRE CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN

OR
CARE TO BE TAKEN WHILE DECIDING QUESTIONNAIRE
Care must be taken while deciding each step of a questionnaire. The following steps explains the
care that must be taken while preparing a questionnaire;
Step 1: Information Needed: First of all, before preparing the questionnaire, the researcher
must know what information is to be collected. Following care must be taken while collecting
information;
The researcher must collect all the detailed information about the problem of research.
No information must be left out which is related to the problem.
The researcher must have clear idea of the target population from whom the information
is to be collected.
Step 2: Survey Method: Before writing the questions for the questionnaire, the researcher must
be clear about which method is going to be used for survey. Example: questionnaire, interview
etc. Following care must be taken while performing this step;
The method of survey must be such that it matches with the survey objectives. Example:
if detailed information is required on a particular topic then interview method is better. So
the researcher must accordingly write the questions of interview. If questionnaire method
is to be used, then questions must be designed as given in the following steps;
Step 3: Individual Questions: In any questionnaire, every question must be designed properly.
It is very important to decided the questions in a questionnaire. Following care must be taken
while performing this step;
Only necessary questions must be included. Unnecessary questions must be removed.
Every question must have a clear meaning. If meaning is not clear then respondents will
understand question in a different way.
Proper number of questions must be asked which must cover all the details about the
variable that is being studied.
Step 4: Inability/Unwillingness to Answer: Sometimes respondents are unable to answer
questions. Therefore, the researcher must take care of the respondent before framing the
questions. Following care must be taken while performing this step;
The respondent must be informed.
The respondent must be able to remember the answers
The respondent must be able to give answers to questions
Be careful while asking sensitive questions like age, income etc.
Make the information request legitimate.
Minimize effort required of respondent. Do not create very long questionnaire.
Step 5: Question Structure: Following care must be taken while performing this step;
Use structured questions whenever possible.
Each question must have all possible answers (options).
Each option should be different from each other

 Include neutral alternative also. For example if you ask for an opinion about good or bad,
then we must also include the option of OK (that means not good, not bad). This is
called neutral option.
Step 6: Question Wording: Following care must be taken while performing this step;
Use ordinary words.
Avoid unnecessary words (usually, probably, normally, etc.)
Avoid assumptions.
Use positive and negative statements as much as possible.
Step 7: Question Order: All questions must be properly ordered in a questionnaire; following
care must be taken while performing this step;
Qualifying questions first. (Example: If you are doing a consumer survey regarding
laptop then the first question must be DO YOU HAVE A LAPTOP. Hence ask
questions to only those who have laptops. This is called qualifying questions.
Ask General questions before specific questions.
Use logical order.
Demographics questions can be ordered in following way;
Beginning of questionnaire
End of questionnaire
Demographic questions means age, income, education, religion, occupation etc.
Step 8: Form & Layout: the layout and form of questionnaire must be as follows;
Divide questionnaire into parts as far as possible
Number each question
Give coding to each questions (EXAMPLE: if a question is regarding gender, then give
code A to males and code B to females)
Keep scale questions in proper order
Avoid writing words like fill the blank spaces
Step 9: Questionnaire Reproduction:
Questionnaire must have a Professional appearance
Booklet format for long questionnaires
Give directions as close to the questions as possible ( for example if the researcher wants
to give direction - PLEASE TICK ONLY ONE ANSWER, then such direction must
given very close to the question so that the respondent can understand how to answer it.
Step 10: Pretesting: Before making a final questionnaire, a questionnaire must first be tested
among a sample of respondents. If everything is ok, then only final questionnaire must be done.
This is known as pretesting. Pretesting means testing the questionnaire before finalising it.
Always try to pretest first
Test everything
Pretest sample should be extremely similar to test sample
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There are two types of questions in a questionnaire

1. Unstructured
2. Structured
1. Unstructured: This is a type of question in which there are not answers (options) given with the
question. Hence it is called unstructured.
Example: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION REGARDING INDIAN ECONOMY. This question is
unstructured because there are not answers given to the question. Every respondent will answer
this question in a different way as they like it.
2. Structured: This is a type of question in which there are possible answers given along with the
question. Hence it is called structured.
Example: DO YOU LIKE COLD-DRINK?
A. YES
B. NO.
In the above question, there are two possible answers only. Hence it is structured question
because there are answers given with the question.
There are many types of structured questions;
a. dichotomous question
b. multiple choice question
c. scale type question
a. Dichotomous question: Dichotomous means two. Hence in this type of questions, there are
only two possible answers
Example: Do you have laptop?
a. YES
b. NO
b. Multiple choice question: In this type of question, there are more than 2 answers
Example: HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GO FOR SHOPPING IN A MONTH
A. ONCE
B. TWICE
C. THRICE D. DONT KNOW
c. Scale type question: In this type of question there is a continuum of answers. Let us try to
understand this continuum on the basis of following example;
Example: HOW OFTEN DO YOU DRINK COLD-DRINKS IN SUMMER SEASON?
ALWAYS
SOMETIMES
NEVER
From the above example, it is clear that the answer moves from left to rightfrom always to
never. Each answer is one step lower than the earlier answer. This is known as continuum of
answers. This type of answers are said to be have SCALE.