The document discusses pre-testing a survey instrument by conducting a small pilot test of the questionnaire on a representative sample of respondents. This helps identify any errors or issues with the questions, format, or data collection before fully implementing the survey. The goals are to test question clarity, response strategies, and improve the survey based on feedback. The pre-testing process involves qualitative research methods like cognitive interviews to get detailed feedback to refine the instrument.

1. PRE-TESTING IN
QUESTIONNAIRE
SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
DR.MIHIR JOSHI SAIYAM AGRAWAL

2. PRE-TESTING
Test the survey instrument before doing the
actual study.
A pretest involves conducting a dry run of the
survey on a small, representative set of
respondents in order to reveal questionnaire errors
before the survey is launched.
It is important to pretest on respondents that are
representative of the target population to be
studied.
Suggestion: It’s also a good idea to test out your
sample design, data collection methods, data
processing, and data analysis if possible.

3. PRE-TESTING GOAL
Identify potential response error, e.g. ---
Question clarity
Contents of records
Response strategy
Suggest improvements to survey questions

4. PRE-TESTING PROCEDURE
Collaborative approach
Voluntary participation by respondents
Site visits
Post-testing follow-through
Multiple rounds – test, revise, re-test

5. PRE-TESTING METHODOLOGY
Qualitative research
Traditional cognitive interviewing methods
Adaptations
Hypothetical questions / probes
Funnel approach: general  specific
Directive questions / probes
In-depth unstructured interviews

6. Pre-Testing the Survey Instrument
Use respondents similar to those who will be in survey
sample.
Test:
Question clarity
failure to answer?
multiple answers?
“other” answers?
qualified answers?

7. Pre-Testing the Survey Instrument
Test continued:
Questionnaire format
instructions?
flow?
layout?
Variance in responses (if interested in relationships
among variables…)
do most respondents give the same answer to a
question?

8. Pre-Testing the Survey Instrument
Revise survey instrument as necessary
Pre-test again if possible
(ideally with some of original pre-test respondents,
and some new respondents)