Twenty top tricks to compiling efficient surveys
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by: jarticlesw
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1. What is the objective of the questionnaire?
Surveys are performed for a lot of reasons. By phrasing the questions and structuring the solutions surveys can be used in a large number of ways and for a variety of reasons. When compiling a questionnaire don't lose sight of its purpose.
2. Title the survey
The survey title is a golden opportunity to instantly summarise a questionnaire's goal and grab the eye of invited respondents. Respondents are going to invest time in finishing the questionnaire so make them really feel that their investment is worthwhile.
3. Do not make the survey any longer than it needs to be
Each question that is asked should be requested for a reason. Concentrate on 'need to know' questions and minimise 'nice to know' information.
4. Use plain English, keep away from jargon and acronyms, preserve the consistency and do not ask questions that may end in ambiguous solutions
Care have to be taken in wording a question. If a query isn't clear then there may be a likelihood that respondents might interpret the question differently to that intended by the writer making any analysis of the info meaningless or at the very least misleading.
5. Avoid lengthy questions
Try to use short sentences wherever possible. Lengthy questions are likely to trigger respondents discomfort and might result in a higher level of incidents where respondents abandon a survey.
6. Ask one question at a time
Keep away from confusing the respondent with a query like 'Do you like soccer and tennis?'
7. Keep away from influencing the answer
It is necessary not to load the question. 'Should irresponsible store keepers who promote tobacco to youngsters be prosecuted?' is unlikely to have any value.
8. Be sure that the answer format used allows the respondent to answer the question being asked
Allow the respondent to answer how they really feel or they may be less inclined to finish the questionnaire. As a final resort contemplate the benefit of including a "Do not know", "Cannot say" or similar response option.
9. At the same time that you compile the survey take into account, when the survey is complete, how the compiled data will be be analysed
If a question is asked that allows a free textual content open ended response appreciate that such data is likely to be troublesome to score and/or summarised. Contemplate grouping answers. For instance "How long have you worked here?" - 'less than 1 year', 'between 1 and 3 years' and 'greater than 3'.
10. Make sure that the questionnaire flows
When asking questions group the questions into clear categories as this makes the task of completing the questionnaire simpler for the participants.
11. Target your respondents
In some circumstances you will want to target a selected group, in others a cross section. If you cannot easily control the respondents think about including questions/answers that may help you filter out respondents who don't fit your target profile.
12. Enable the respondent to expand or make comments
Allowing the respondent to make additional feedback will improve their satisfaction level and also will give valuable feedback on the precise questions and/or the questionnaire as a whole. Keep in mind though for a big sample collection it might be difficult to analyse free text open ended responses.
13. If the questionnaire you might be conducting is to be confidential be sure that your pledge is upheld
When you have assured the respondents that the survey is confidential be certain that the individual's data is not to be shared with anybody and the information isn't going to be used for some other purpose. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times and any identifying data destroyed after the questionnaire is complete.
14. Weigh up the advantages of permitting respondents to be anonymous or identifiable
In case your respondents are to be anonymous then appreciate that you may be unable to follow up or match "pre" or "post" questionnaires. Nonetheless in some cases permitting people to stay anonymous will allow people to respond without potential peer pressure.
15. Give careful consideration to the best response format
It's good practice to maintain a consistency in the format used for responses. Remember the fact that when analysing the info radio buttons are simpler to analyse than check boxes that offer the respondent multiple responses. Do not use a check box if a radio response would do.
16. Give the respondent an indication of how much time the survey will take
Respondent drop out can happen if the survey appears to be a stream of never ending questions. It's good practice to offer an indication as to how long the survey is likely to take so the respondents can choose the best time to participate in the questionnaire.
17. Inform the respondents of the questionnaire end date
Encourage respondents to complete the questionnaire as quickly as possible however advice respondents as to the questionnaires end date in order that they have the chance to schedule the necessary time.
18. Pilot the questionnaire
Before publishing a live questionnaire publish a small pilot questionnaire to test for questions which might be ambiguous or confusing and to ensure that the survey is aesthetically pleasing.
19. Before publishing the survey proof read the questionnaire several times
Check and check again that the survey is grammatically correct and makes sense. If possible get another person to proof read the survey before you publish, if no one else is available then take a break before checking again.
20. Remember to say thank you
To complete surveys respondents need to invest their time and should be thanked either in a covering letter, at the end of completing the survey or in a follow up letter. It's possible you'll even want to contemplate incentives such as a prize draw or reward.
About the Author
For an example please view the Sample Survey. Martin Day is the Managing Director of Survey Galaxy, the internet site that allows surveys and questionnaires to be created, designed and published to the Internet; straightforward to use, quick and very cost effective.
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