17 Questionnaire Design Tips
1. Prepare clear objectives
To collect the information you need you must have a well designed questionnaire.To have a well designed questionnaire you must first define the objectives of your survey.
2. Identify the information you need
When the objectives are expressed clearly, identify the information you need to satisfy your objectives.3. Avoid long questionnaires
Normally long questionnaires get less response than short questionnaires. Keep your questionnaire short. Good response rate is key to the confidence you can place in the results.4. Eliminate unnecessary questions
When including a question make sure you know how you are going to use the information you collect. If you don’t know – eliminate the question.5. Take advice
Involve other people with the design. Seek their opinions about content, presentation and use.6. Explain the purpose
Keep the title of your questionnaire short and relevant. This will help respondents immediately understand what your questionnaire is about.Explain why the survey is being conducted.
7. Protect confidentiality
When undertaking a survey it can be of prime importance to protect the confidentiality of data provided by respondents.Explain whether respondents can be identified from the survey results and who will have access to the results.
8. Provide clear and concise instructions
Explain clearly how to complete the questionnaire. Keep instructions short, people don’t read long instructions.Good instructions will increase the confidence of respondents and reduce errors – improving the quality of the data you receive.
9. Create interest early
A well designed first page can help to gain confidence and interest.Begin with a few interesting questions. If people don’t like the look of the first questions they may not complete the questionnaire.
Personal questions about the respondents themselves may best be kept to the end of the questionnaire.
10. Hold interest
Avoid producing boring repetitive questionnaires. Use different types of question structure, vary the way questions are asked, use design to add interest.11. Use simple language
Questions must use plain clear language and not be long and complex. They must avoid being interpreted in more than one way.Draft your questions and then edit them carefully – deleting unnecessary words, emphasising important words (with CAPITALS) and at all costs avoiding ambiguity.
Then edit them again.
12. Provide space for comments
People may feel that ticking boxes doesn’t allow them to properly complete a questionnaire. Providing opportunities to add their own comments can overcome this and provide invaluable information.Comments (free text) boxes can also be used when there is not enough information available to design a good “checkbox” question.
Free text responses do have potential disadvantages
- If used too much they may reduce response rates (because they are more time consuming to complete)
- They are not as straightforward to analyse as “checkbox” questions
13. Order questions logically
It is unclear whether the order of questions has any effect on response rates.However, question order does effect how well questions are completed. Group related questions into categories or sections. Questions should flow smoothly and logically from one to the next.
14. Produce well presented questionnaires
Make sure your questionnaire is well laid out and looks good. Good presentation makes your questionnaire stand out. It shows you take the survey seriously and encourages your respondents to do the same – increasing the response rates.The formatting tools in SurveyFish ensure you can achieve a high standard of presentation quickly and easily.
15. Make it convenient
The easier it is for the respondent to complete the questionnaire the better.Completing an online questionnaire may fit into daily routine more readily than completing a paper questionnaire. Online questionnaires can be returned just by clicking the submit button.
If you are undertaking a postal survey always include a self-addressed postage-paid envelope.
16. Share the results
Offer to share a summary of the results with your respondents. This will encourage people to complete the questionnaire and increase the likelihood of cooperation if the survey is repeated.17. Test it
Always try and test your questionnaire. Pilot the questionnaire using a sample from your target audience.The feedback will be invaluable and help you get the best from your survey.