Questionnaire Design Activity

Questionnaire Design Activity

The purpose of this activity is to think about how to write good questions on surveys. The focus here is on measuring evaluative questions (i.e., those about a respondent’s opinions, attitudes, values, etc.). Each item below is a concept that we might want to operationalize in a survey questionnaire. For each item, generate two (2) possible ways of measuring this concept. Then, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. For example, you might want to consider any of the following features:

• Is the question easy for respondents to understand? Might the question (or the answer options) require clarification after being read?
• Are the number and types of response options appropriate? Are the categories sufficiently distinct from one another?
• Is a “no opinion,” “don’t know,” or “neither support nor oppose” response option available?
• Is one survey item (i.e., one question) sufficient to measure this construct?
• How long does it take to read and answer this question?

Concepts

1. Example

Support for the current U.S. federal government.

Set A

1. Opinion about public transportation provision in your city.
2. Opinion about one’s workplace supervisor.

Set B

1. Opinion toward the United States Congress.
2. Opinion about quality of education at your university or local public schools.

Set C

1. Opinion toward U.S. immigration policy.
2. Opinion about quality of social life in your city or town.

Set D

1. Opinion toward the major political parties in the United States (Democratic and Republican).
2. Opinion about one’s current mobile phone company.

Set E

1. Opinion about preferred level of spending on social welfare programs.
2. Opinion about one’s last meal purchased at a restaurant.