Questionnaires play a central role in the data collection process. A well-designed questionnaire efficiently collects the required data with a minimum number of errors. It facilitates the coding and capture of data and it leads to an overall reduction in the cost and time associated with data collection and processing. The biggest challenge in developing a questionnaire is to translate the objectives of the survey into a well-conceptualized and methodologically sound study.
Before you can design the questionnaire, you must plan the survey as a whole, including the objectives, data needs and analysis. Once the questionnaire is designed, it must be tested before you can proceed with the data collection.
There is a lot to consider when developing a questionnaire. The following is a list of some key points to think about:
Is the introduction informative? Does it stimulate respondent interest?
Are the words simple, direct and familiar to all respondents?
Do the questions read well? Does the overall questionnaire flow well?
Are the questions clear and as specific as possible?
Does the questionnaire begin with easy and interesting questions?
Is there a specific time reference?
Are any of the questions double-barreled?
Are any questions leading or loaded?
Should the questions be open- or close-ended? If the questions are close-ended are the response categories mutually exclusive and exhaustive?
Are the questions applicable to all respondents?