Questionnaire
o Every question should be necessary = contribute to the
• Definition: A formalized set of questions for obtaining
information from participants.
• Questionnaire Objectives:
o 1. Translate information needs to questions that
participants can and will answer.
o 2. Encourage participants to become involved and
complete the task (benefits & rewarding)
o 3. Should minimize response error.
• Questionnaire design process:
• 1) Specify Information needed:
o It is helpful to review components of problem, research
questions and hypothesis and to have a clear idea of target
participants as they have a great influence on the
questionnaire design.
• 2) Specify the type of interviewing method: such as
o Online and postal survey: for simple questions.
They need detailed instructions (are self-administered).
Online tools can easily accommodate skip patterns,
questions randomization and extensive filtering. features.
o Face to face interviews: for lengthy, complex, and varied
questions.
o Telephone interview: for short & simple questions.
• 3) Determine the content of individual questions:
information needed, otherwise removed; and sufficient
o While researchers can:
▪ Ask neutral questions to establish involvement at
the beginning.
▪ Ask two distinct questions to avoid double
barreled questions.
▪ Duplicate questions to assess validity and
reliability.
• 4) Overcoming respondents’ inability & unwillingness:
o Some factors limit participant's ability such as "not
informed, not remember, or unable to articulate/express".
o To overcome this, Researcher can:
▪ Use filtering questions and “don't know”
options to deal with uninformed respondents.
▪ Don’t rely heavily on participants’ memory.
▪ Use pictures, maps, alternative descriptions to
help participants articulate/express.
▪ Minimize effort required to increase willingness.
▪ Explaining data collection legitimate reasons;
avoid embarrassment or threaten questions; delay
sensitive questions; and ask them indirectly to
increase willingness.
• 5) Choose Questions structure:
o Unstructured questions are open-ended with free answers.
They are good as 1st or final questions.
o Structured questions are close ended with specific answer
and format. They can be MCQ, dichotomous or a scale.
• 6) Choose Question Wording by:
o Defining the issue addressed (use WH questions)
o Using ordinary, simple, familiar, unambiguous, & objective words
o Using both positive and negative statements.
o Avoiding leading questions, implicit alternatives & assumptions,
generalizations, and estimates

• NOTE: this task is the most critical & difficult and is

essential to avoid item non-response and response error.
• 7) Arrange the questions in proper order by using the
following order:
o 1. Opening questions to gain confidence,
o 2. Basic info Questions, followed by classification, then identification questions.
o 3. Difficult or sensitive questions lately.

o NOTE: The order should be consistent with:

▪ Funnel approach (General to specific).
▪ Logical approach: topic coherence

• 8) Identify form & layout: This involves:

o Dividing the questionnaire into several parts
o Numbering the questions and questionnaire copies.
o Precoding the questionnaire.

• 9) Reproduction of the Questionnaire is done as follows:

o On good-quality paper in booklet form.
o With professional appearance with no crowding
o Placing instructions close to questions.

• 10) Eliminate potential problems: By Pilot testing

o On a small sample extensively (all aspects).
o Drawn from the same population.
o Through face-to-face interviews