Questionnaire Development

1. By Dr Zahid Khan
Senior Lecturer King Faisal University,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2. content
 Definition
of a Questionnaire
 Characteristics of the good
questionnaire
 Types
 Functions
 Questionnaire as an instrument
 Reliability
 Validity
 Constructing a questionnaire

3. Definition

Questionnaire is a set of questions asked to the target
respondents. Both open and close-ended questions can be
used in the design of the questionnaire to collect data.
In questionnaire design the different types of data which
can be used are; nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio
scales.

4. What are the different scales?

NOMINAL: Label objects (e.g. yes/no, gender)

ORDINAL: Indicate only relative size differences between
objects (e.g. purchase frequency)

INTERVAL: Use descriptors that are equal distances apart
(e.g. measuring temperature)

RATIO: Have a true zero point (e.g. rupees spent)

5. Characteristics of a good questionnaire
1.
Should be concerned with specific and relevant topic
2.
Should be short
3.
Directions and wording should be simple and clear
4.
Questions should be objective
5.
Early questions should be simple in design, friendly and easy to respond;
on the other hand; they should convey the theme of the study to the
respondent.
6.
The questionnaires should begin with an effort to awaken the respondents’
interest. Important target questions should be asked in the middle of
the opinion survey.
7. Embarrassing questions, presuming questions and hypothetical
questions should be avoided

6. Continued
8. Should be presented in a good order
9. Should be attractive, neatly printed and clearly arranged.
10. All the questions related to personal information (name,
income, phone, address etc.) of the respondents should be either
optional or asked in the last section of the questionnaires.
11. Open ended questions should be placed in the later part of the
questionnaire and deliberately kept to the minimum.

7. What are open and close-ended questions?

For
open ended questions the researcher does not provide any options to answer. Questions are
open to any descriptive response.
Example:
Q. what do you do to keep yourself healthy?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Close ended questions have definite options and they are easy to respond
Example: (Tick the appropriate options below)
Q. what do you do to keep yourself healthy?
a) by running/jogging more than 3 times weekly
b) by brisk walking daily
c) By biking daily

8. Types of questionnaire

1.
2.

1.
2.
Based upon the type of respond required,
Fixed- response questionnaire.
Open- end questionnaire.
Based upon the method of administering,
Mail questionnaire
Face-to-face administered questionnaire

9. Functions of questionnaire

DESCRITION:
The questionnaire provides description about
age, sex, marital status, occupation, income,
religious affiliation, etc.

MEASUREMENT:
Measurement of individual and/or group
variables like personal habits, reading, watching
TV, working hours per week, attitude and so on.

10. Questionnaire as instruments
 Most
survey research relies on the
use of questionnaire to measure
variables
 Demographic
 The
variables
accuracy and precision of
questionnaire requires expertise and
care in their construction

11. Demographic variables
 Demographic
variables are used to describe
the characteristics of the people who are
surveyed.
 Measures
such as race, ethnicity, age and
socio economic status.
 The
accuracy and precision of questionnaire
as survey research instrument depends upon
the expertise and care that go into their
construction

12. Preferences and attitudes
 Individuals
preferences for certain
things and attitudes.
 For
example use of certain perfume,
Attitude toward smoking in Public
places, eating of certain type of
food.

13. Self report scales

Used to measure peoples judgments or
attitude about items presented on the
scale
e.g. Games, cold drinks like Pepsi, political
leaders

To determine differences among people on
some dimensions presented on the scale
e.g., reading more or less, amount of stress

14. Reliability

Reliability refers to the consistency of measurement.

Reliable test should yield similar(consistent) results
each time it is taken

Common method: test- retest reliability
FACTORS AFFECTING RELIABILITY:

Number of items

Variability

Condition in which the questionnaire is administered

15. validity

It refers to the truthfulness of a measure

Does it measure what it intends to
measure?
Assessing validity: Construct validity
Extend to which it measure the theoretical
construct it is designed to measure.

16. Constructing a questionnaire
Deciding type, writing a draft, pretesting, concluding with
specific procedures.
STEPS:
1.
Decide what information should be sought
2.
Decide what type of questionnaire should be used
3.
Write a first draft of the questionnaire
4.
Reexamine and revise the questionnaire
5.
Pretest the questionnaire
6.
Edit the questionnaire and specify the procedures for its use.

17.  ORDER
OF THE QUESTIONS:

Begin with simple and general questions

No sensitive and embarrassing questions at beginning

Move from general to specific in logical manner

Sensitive questions at the end

Demographic data should be obtained at the end of self
administering questions

Use funnel sequence: Start with broad questions and gradually
narrow down to the specific questions related to the topic.

18. The structure of the questionnaire?
Opening
• Show Courtesy
• Awaken the respondents interest on the topic
Early
Questions
• These should be simple, friendly, close ended, easy to
respond questions & should convey the theme of the
study
Middle
Questions
• Ask the Target Questions
Late
Questions
• Ask optional questions like name, age etc along with
open-ended question here
Closing
• Build relation, Keep scope for future meetings, show
gratitude to the respondent for responding, leave on
a positive note

19. conclusion

Questionnaire are the main and easy way collecting
data

But the questionnaire must be highly reliable and
valid.

Using standardized questionnaires will give us the
appropriate data and will yield a valid study

One must follow all the basic guidelines and methods
of constructing a questionnaire and test it before using
it.

20. Any Questions !!!!!!
Thank
You