Building Survey Questions

Before creating a survey to collect data, review efforts by other researchers to collect similar information.

Good survey questions should:

• Be clearly defined and unambiguously presented-reduces respondent frustration and need to interpret
• Use language appropriate for audience
• Reduce the chance of the respondent making errors
  • Instructions should be clear.
  • Period of recall should not be too long.
• Minimize the amount of discomfort experienced by the respondent:
  • Keep sensitive items to a minimum and only if necessary!
  • When necessary move to the back of the survey.
• Should be asked in a logical manner
• Should not be leading
  • Minimizes the introduction of bias.
• Asks for only one piece of information
• Use response options that are appropriate to the question
  • Response options should also be mutually exclusive.
• When asking open ended items, be specific as to the properties of the answer desired