Designing a Questionnaire

Data collection methods play significant role in a research process. Questionnaire method is a type of primary data collection method. This method is used in surveys. In this, research related question formats are distributed to people or respondents. By this method, researcher is able to collect data from wide geographical area. Questionnaire design is most important part of this method. Data quality largely depends on the design of questionnaire. An inappropriately designed questionnaire will not help to collect relevant and accurate data for research. If you face problem in designing a questionnaire, it is always advisable to seek dissertation help from your supervisor or some other expert.

While designing a questionnaire, the researcher must be cleared about aim and objectives of the research. By this, researcher can construct brief and satisfactory questionnaire. It also helps in adequate content designing of questions. The questions that can be analyzed to produce useful data should include in the questionnaire (Crouch and Housden, 2003). It ensures that questions are directly linked to research problem. The relevancy of data to research problem is necessary for sound decision making.

Question should be in easy and understandable language. Technical and jargon words should use, where it is necessary. Questionnaire content should be according to the type of respondents (Zikmund and Babin, 2009). In addition, question should be clear by meaning, so that every respondent can interpret same meaning. This helps in interpretation of data. These questions should not be ambiguous as it may produce ambiguous output.

Question should be logically sequenced and successive in order. This should start from easy question that able to make base for respondents. Questionnaire length should not be too long otherwise; it will become boring or irritating for respondents. This can be avoided by making focused and to the point questions. Questions must be framed according to importance and problem of the research. Researcher should not consider the interest of own as well as the respondents in making questionnaire (Browne, 2000).

Type of questions can be used:

Dichotomous Questions: This type of question has only two possible answers that is ‘yes’ or ‘no’. These questions are easy to ask, answer and to analyze as it gives straight answers. Some questions fall in both ‘yes’ and ‘no’ category, in this situation, this type of questions are no longer suitable. This makes ambiguous to respondents and make question invalid.

Multiple-choice questions: This type of question has all possible answers. It is very difficult to design as it not only contains question, but also includes all possible answers. These possible answers should be according to everyone’s point of view. It should be comprehensive as well as cover all possible answer that is why; it is difficult to design but easy to ask. This is most difficult task of this question (Crouch and Housden, 2003).

Open-ended: This is opposite from multi–choice question. In this, not a single possible answer suggested, so it can be respond in any way by respondents. Through this, respondents are free to express their view. The analysis and interpretation part is very difficult as there is intense variation in responses (Brace, 2008).

Rating scales: Attitude measurement and motivational research involves this question. For application of this technique, researcher must clear about what is required from them as well as from respondents. Rating scale measures complex and multi dimension concept that provides better information.

References
Brace, I. (2008) Questionnaire Design. 2nd ed. USA: Kogan Page Publishers.
Browne, D. (2000) Heinemann Business Studies for AS Level. UK: Heinemann.
Crouch, S. and Housden, M. (2003) Marketing research for managers.3rd ed. UK: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Zikmund, W.J. and Babin, B.J. (2009) Essentials of Marketing Research. 4th ed. USA: Cengage Learning.