Questionnaire Development Process

QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Questionnaire Format

It consists of two parts namely (1) Questions and (2) Responses.

Once the researcher has decided on the specific type of questions and the response formats, the next task is the actual writing of the questions. The wording in specific questions always poses significant time investment for the researcher. The general guidelines are useful to bear in mind during the wording and sequencing of each question.

Characteristics of a questionnaire

·              The wording must be clear

·              Select words so as to avoid biasing the respondent

·              Consider the ability of the respondent to answer the question

·              Create the willingness of the respondent to answer the questions.

Evaluate the Questionnaire

Once a rough draft of the Questionnaire has been designed the researcher is obligated to take a step back and critically evaluate it. This phase may seem redundant, given all the careful thoughts that went into each question. But recall the crucial role played by the questionnaire. At this point in the questionnaire development of the following item should be considered.

·              Is the question necessary?

·              Is the survey too long?

·              Will the question provide the answers to the survey objectives?

Pre-Test

After the questionnaire is prepared, pre-test is to be done. The process collecting information from the related respondent in small number with the framed questionnaire is called Pre-Test. Sometimes, the questionnaire is circulated among some competent investigators and they are asked to make suggestions for its improvement. Once this has been done and suggestion incorporated in the final form of the questionnaire is ready for the collection of data.