QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNING

Prof. D.P.S. Verma

QUESTIONNAIRE

A set of questions for collecting information from the respondents. Most common form of measurement in research Generally associated with survey research Also used as a measurement instrument in experimental research Called interview schedule when used for personal or telephonic interview The measurement accuracy should be the major concern in questionnaire designing !hould be carefully developed" tested" and improved" before using on a large scale.

GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A QUESTIONNAIRE

1. The question should be necessary.

# $oes it contribute to the information sought% # &egin with a few neutral questions before as'ing sensitive or controversial questions the questions to disguise the main purpose of the study.

. The question should be su!!icient.

Can it yield the requisite information%
(hether one question or more than one questions.

)$ouble#barrelled* question+ when two or more questions are as'ed as one" e.g." $o you prefer a small" economy car" or a larger" deluxe car%

". The question should be ans#erable.

Can the respondent answer it accurately%

,nability to answer might be due to+ The respondent might not have the information The respondent might have forgotten it The respondent might be inarticulate

$. %o# &any questions'

neither too many nor too few

(. )ill the res*ondent be #illin+ to ans#er it accurately'

-easons+ . /ersonal in nature . 0mbarrassing . -eflecting on prestige 0ffects+ . ,tem non response . -efusal to complete the remainder of the question . $istortion # giving incorrect answer deliberately . -efusal to answer

,ontents o! the Question

1 Avoid question+ 2a3 (hich cannot be answered4 2b3 (hich would not be answered4 2c3 (hich need not be answered. 1 Ma'e sure that any pertinent question is not left out

,hec-.
1 ,s the question necessary% 1 $oes the respondent have the requisite information% # 0xperience # -emember5-ecall 1 (ill it be worth the labour involved% 1 (ill he give the requisite information% 1 Are several questions needed instead of one%

)ordin+ o! the Question

6. Meaning of word # ,s it understandable% 7. &iased words and leading questions # ,s the word biased or )loaded*% 8. Are the alternative answers provided in the question clearly stated% 9. ,mplied assumptions+ # Are the assumptions made in the question clearly stated% :. ;rame of reference+ # (hat frame of reference the respondent has assumed%

Types of Questions
The type of the question influences the response 6. Close ended

7. <pen ended Close ended =uestion+ ,t specifies all the possible answers4 the respondent has merely to choose one of them <pen ended =uestion+ 1 The respondent can answer it in his own words. 1 ,t often reveals more since the respondent is not constrained in their answers.

Close ended question provides answers that is easier to interpret and tabulate.

Types of Questions
Na&e
A. ,lose0ended Question Dichoto&ous A question with two possible answers $o you smo'e%

Descri*tion

E/a&*le

>es ?o @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 1ulti*le ,hoice A question with three or more possible answers. (ith whom do you go for shopping% ?o one Children only !pouse !pouse A children
,ontd2

Types of Questions
(contd)

3i-ert4s Scale

A statement with which the respondent is to show the extent of his agreement or
disagreement.

A small store generally provides better service than a large one.

!trongly Agree ?either Agree agree nor disagree 1. disagree 2.. 3

$isagree !trongly

Types of Questions
(contd)

Se&antic

Di!!erential

A scale connecting two bi polar words. The respondent is to select the point that represents his opinion.

Bow do you rate C>D !tores% EargeFF.FFFFFFFFFF!mall 6F. 7F.. 8FF 9FF

:FF 0xperiencedFFFFF......,nexperienced 6F. 7F.. 8FF 9FF :FF ModernFFFFFFFF..<ld fashioned 6F. 7F.. 8FF 9FF :FF

Types of Questions
(contd)

I&*ortance Scale

A scale that rates the importance ,ndian Airline food service to me is+ of some attribute 0xtremely Gery !omewhat ?ot very ?ot at ,mp. ,mp. ,mp. ,mp. all ,mp. 6F. 7F.. 8FF 9FF :FF 2,mp. H ,mportant3

Types of Questions
(contd)

Ratin+ Scale

A scale that rates some attribute from )poor* to )excellent*

Their food service is+ 0xcellent Gery Good ;air Good 6F.. 7.F. 8..F 9..F

/oor :..F

Types of Questions
(contd)

Intention0to0buy A scale that describes the Scale respondentIs intention to buy5use

,f home delivery were available for groceries" , would + $efinitely /robably ?ot /robably $efinitely avail avail sure not avail not avail 6F. 7F.. 8F 9FF :FF

Types of Questions
5contd26

7. O*en0end Questions

,o&*letely Unstructured

A question that respondents can (hat is your opinion about answer in an almost unlimited ,ndian Airlines% number of ways. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ )ord Association !everal words are presented one at a time" and the respondent has to mention the first word that comes to his mind. (hat is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear the following% Airline FFFFFFFF ,ndian FFFFFFFF Travel FFFFFFFF.

Types of Questions
5contd.6

Sentence ,o&*letion

An incomplete sentence is presented (hen , choose an Airline" and the respondent is to complete the the most important same consideration in my decision is FFFFF

Story ,o&*letion

An incomplete story is presented and the respondent is to complete it.

, flew ,ndian Airlines a few days ago. , ?oticed that the interior of the plane had very bright colours. This aroused in me the following thoughts and feelingsFFFFFF.

Types of Questions
5contd.6

8icture

A picture of two characters is presented" with one ma'ing a statement. -espondents are as'ed to identify with the other and fill in the empty box.

The&atic A**erce*tion Test 5TAT6

A picture is presented and the respondent is as'ed to ma'e up a story about what he thin's is happening" or may happen" in the picture.

I9. A**ro*riate )ordin+ 1 (ording should be+ # # # # # 1 Avoid+ # Gague question # double barreled questions # )big* words" e.g." KsalientI" KdominantI # Ambiguous words" e.g." KusuallyI" KnormallyI" KfrequentlyI" KregularlyI" KhabituallyI" KcontinuallyI 1 $efine the issue+ # K(hoI" K(hereI" K(henI" and K(hatI are particularly important% # K(hyI and KBowI may be applicable in some questions% 1 Avoid KleadingI question+ # K,t has been allegedFF.I # KBow long was the movieI% # KBow short was the movieI% !imple $irect Jnbiased !pecific 2not vague3

9. 8ro*er Sequencin+ o! Questions # The lead question should be interesting. # As' difficult and personal questions at the end. # Arrange questions in a logical order.
#

As' questions on classificatory data about the respondent at the end" since they are more personal and less interesting to the respondent.

9I. 8re0testin+ o! the Question. 0nsure that ,t contributes to the research objective ,ts wordings are appropriate ,ts sequencing is appropriate

9II. A:oid the !ollo#in+ ty*es o! questions. 6. (hat is your name% 7. (hat is your income% 8. Are you a strong or wea' supporter of soft drin's% What is meant by strong weak? 9. Bow many ads do you see in the newspaper 5 on TG5 or on road% :. (hat is the most salient and determinant feature you loo' for in a car% What is salient , determinant? L. $o you want your family members to have the comfort of a refrigerator% Who wont? M. Avoid generalisations.

GUIDE3INES ;OR AD1INISTERING T%E QUESTIONNAIRE

6. Give the respondent a clear comprehension of the question. 7. ,nduce the respondent to cooperate and to trust that answers will be

treated confidentially.
8. !timulate responses to greater introspection" plumbing of memory" or

reference to records.
9. Give instruction on what is wanted and the manner of responding :. ,dentify what needs to be 'nown to classify and verify the interview. L. =uestions should be designed to facilitate the interviewer in

administering it.
7. ,t should anticipate the requirement of efficient data processing.