Survey Question Considerations

Survey Question Considerations

By Kristine Burmeister

Your Project (Part 1) needs to create a survey

That means you need to write questions!

​What do you want to find out about? What information would you like to gather?

YOUR IDEA​

​Your survey needs 2 types of questions - answer with words and answer with numbers

TYPES OF QUESTIONS​

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Your questions need to be answerable in the most bias free way!

Writing Questions

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Example Questions (with issues)

What type of questions can you ask?

Instead ask: I am able to drive a stick shift car.

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No Confusion!​

CONSIDER​

DOUBLE NEGATIVE... Am I agreeing that I am not able or am i disagreeing that I am not able? VOCABULARY... Does everyone know the words?

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Issues

I AM NOT competent TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR.

Question Issue = Double Negative

What would you list for answer choices? True or False?

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How would you fix it?

Consider...

Asking for 2 things... what if I think I can write a cover letter but not a resume? How would I answer?​

Issues

I am confident in my ability to write a cover letter and resume.

Question Issue = Double Barrell

Make sure all answers are available in the choices

Consider...

What if I didn't skip any classes?

Issues

How many classes did I skip this semester?

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 d) 4 e) 5 or more​

Question Issue = Mutually Exclusive & Exhaustive

Would you attend a weekend job fair if it were available?​

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Not leading​

Consider...

How can we be sure it would increase your chances? Leading people to a yes answer...

Issues

Would you be willing to attend a weekend job fair if it increases your chances of getting a job interview?

Question Issue = Leading Question

Multiple Choice

How many servings of fruits and vegetables to you eat in a day?

• biased question

• random question

Multiple Choice

Do you want a delicious salad for lunch or the usual sandwich?

• biased question

• random question

Gives the responder the ability to say anything they want and describe their answer.​

Open Ended

Allows the responder to answer with only one word or a few words​

Closed Ended

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite season?

• biased question

• random question

Multiple Choice

Do you enjoy playing intramural sports?

• Open-Ended Question

• Close-Ended Question

Multiple Choice

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

• Open-Ended Question

• Close-Ended Question