Learning how to write a good questionnaire is easy with these starter tips
Although developing a survey may seem like simple work to the untrained eye, a professional understands that it takes skill to know how to write a good questionnaire. Writing an effective survey or poll is more than just coming up with a few questions; it requires planning, strategy, and specific consideration. Here are a few tips to help you develop your next survey questionnaire.
Know what you want to achieve
Before you even start writing your survey questions, one of the most important parts of knowing how to write a good questionnaire is understanding the information you wish to gather with your survey. Clearly outline your objectives as these goals will guide the development of the questions.
Determine your survey methodology
When it comes to conducting surveys, you have a lot of options available in terms of the methodology you can use. There are lots of survey software platforms that offer a wide variety of formats for your questionnaire. How to write a good questionnaire isn’t just a matter of the right questions, it’s also a matter of selecting the software that suits the needs of your data collection goals. IdSurvey offers CATI, CAWI, and CAPI methodologies, giving you the flexibility to choose which is best for your project.
Write the questions without bias
Although you are searching for specific information in your survey and may even hope for a particular result, one of the key cornerstones of how to write a good survey is to ensure that you avoid bias. In other words, write your questions without leading the respondent or suggesting the type of answer you wish to achieve. Develop the questions to be objective so the respondent can give an honest, unbiased answer.
Although learning how to write a good questionnaire takes a bit of practice, the investment you make into your survey’s quality will pay off in the results. Once you select a powerful data collection tool such as IdSurvey, and you pay attention to the way you word your questions, you will be well on your way to developing a questionnaire that can provide you with valuable data to achieve your goals.
