Which question type is right for your survey

Overview

This article provides guidance on selecting the right question types for surveys, forming effective questions, and best practices for creating well-structured questionnaires. It covers various aspects of survey design to help you gather accurate and meaningful data from respondents.

Information

This guide focuses on the key elements of survey design, including question types, language use, and common pitfalls to avoid when creating survey questions.

• Selecting question types
• Forming the Questions
• Language use in the questionnaire
• One possible answer vs. several possible answers
• Non-leading questions
• Mutually exclusive response options
• Collective exhaustive response options
• Correlation between questions and response options
• Don't take anything for granted
• Ask about one thing at a time

Selecting question types

There are three main types of questions commonly used in surveys:

1. Closed-ended questions: Respondents select from pre-defined options. These are quick to answer and easy to analyze but may not cover all possible responses.

2. Open-ended questions: Respondents provide answers in their own words. These can yield surprising and useful insights but are more labor-intensive to analyze.

3. Combination of closed-ended and open-ended questions: This approach increases the likelihood of capturing all possible answers and is useful when you're unsure if all response options are covered.

Forming the Questions

Properly formed questions are crucial for gathering valid data and drawing accurate conclusions. The following sections outline important elements to consider when creating survey questions.

Language use in the questionnaire

The language used in a survey is critical. Questions should have the following characteristics:

• Relevant to a clearly defined problem

• Simple and conversational in tone

• Unambiguous and not open to misinterpretation

• Not offensive or inflammatory

• Free of slang, abbreviations, or specialist terminology

One possible answer vs. several possible answers

Be clear about whether a question should have one or multiple possible answers. Avoid confusion by explicitly stating when multiple selections are allowed.

Non-leading questions

Ensure questions are as neutral as possible and do not lead respondents to specific answers. Avoid including assumptions or biases in the question wording.

Mutually exclusive response options

When providing multiple-choice options, ensure that the choices are mutually exclusive. For example, when asking about age ranges, make sure the ranges don't overlap:

• Below 20 years

• 20-29 years

• 30-39 years

• 40-49 years

• 50 years or older

Collective exhaustive response options

Ensure that response options cover all possible answers a respondent might give. Include options like "Other" or "Don't know" when appropriate to capture all potential responses.

Correlation between questions and response options

Maintain consistency between the phrasing of the question and the response options. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures the validity of the results.

Don't take anything for granted

Allow respondents the option to indicate that they don't know or don't have an opinion. Be aware that words and concepts can mean different things to different individuals or groups.

Ask about one thing at a time

Avoid asking about multiple issues in a single question. This can lead to confusion and make it difficult to interpret the results accurately.

FAQ

What are the main types of survey questions?

The main types of survey questions are closed-ended questions, open-ended questions, and a combination of both. Closed-ended questions offer pre-defined options, open-ended questions allow free-text responses, and a combination approach uses both types to capture comprehensive data.

How can I ensure my survey questions are not biased?

To avoid bias in survey questions, use neutral language, avoid leading questions, provide balanced response options, and allow respondents to express uncertainty or lack of opinion when appropriate.

Why is it important to have mutually exclusive response options?

Mutually exclusive response options are important because they prevent confusion and ensure that respondents can select only one appropriate answer. This makes data analysis more accurate and reliable.