Developing simple questions

For your survey questionnaire

As a rule….
Good questionnaires or interview schedules
should not only be short but also simple.
Always use objectives as guides in
deciding on the factors or variables to be
studied.
Divide the instrument into different
sections according to the main or
independent variables, intervening
variables, and dependent variables. (See
example on the next slide.)
I. Personal Characteristics
II. Knowledge
III. Attitude
IV. Practice
V. Communication
Number each item under each section to
facilitate the preparation of dummy tables,
coding, and tabulation of data.
Example of Sections:

I. Personal Characteristics
1. Age last birthday_____________
II. Knowledge
1. The total population of China in 1985
was 1.2 million.
____Yes ____No
III. Attitude
1. More males should now practice family
planning (FP).
____Strongly agree ____Disagree
____Agree ____Strongly
disagree
____No comment
IV. Practice
1. What FP method do you use now?
V. Communication
1. What are your sources of information
about social forestry?
__________________________

__________________________________
_____
Give instructions under each main section
particularly on knowledge and attitude.
Example of instructions:
A. Knowledge
Please check the right answer under each
item. The correct answers are those found in the
material you have read.
B. Attitude
There is no right or wrong answer in this
section. Please check the answer that best
describes your feeling toward each item.
Use filter questions to avoid invalidity of
response.
Example of filter question.
1. Do you practice family planning? (This is
a filter question.)
____Yes ____No
1.2. If yes, what method do you use?
________

____________________________________
Avoid leading questions.
Example:
1. Do you listen to this radio
program?
Change to:
1. What programs do you listen to?
Avoid double-barrelled questions.
Example:
1. Do you read a newspaper or
magazine?
Change to:
1. Do you read newspapers?
2. Do you read magazines?
Avoid vague questions.
Example:
1. How do you feel about what you
read?
Change to:
1. How satisfied or dissatisfied are
you with what you read?
Use short, common words.
Example:
1. What contraceptive method do you
use?
(instead of utilize).
Use soft words.

Example:
1. Those who failed should be corrected
(instead of punished).
Avoid vague words.
Examples:
Generally, fairly, somewhat.
Avoid questions that provide answers to
succeeding questions.
Avoid asking questions referring to events
too far or distant for the respondent to
remember accurately.
Example:
How did you feel about this issue 10
years ago?
Change to:
How did you feel about this issue
last year?