CHOICES AND STRATEGIES: Choosing Types of Questions for Questionnaires

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CHOICES AND STRATEGIES: Choosing Types of Questions for Questionnaires

IF YOU WANT TO . . . CONSIDER USING THIS QUESTION TYPE EXAMPLE
Have respondents choose among alternatives Multiple choice. The respondent selects one answer from a list. Would you consider joining a company-sponsored sports team?

Yes_____ No_____
Measure respondents’ feelings about an idea or concept Likert scale. The respondent ranks the degree to which he or she agrees or disagrees with the statement. Using an even number of possible responses (six, in this case) increases your chances of obtaining useful data. With an odd number, many respondents will choose the middle response. The flextime program has been a success in its first year.

strongly agree _ _ _ _ _ _ disagree
Measure respondents’ feelings about a task, an experience, or an object Semantic differentials. The respondent registers a response along a continuum between a pair of opposing adjectives. As with Likert scales, an even number of possible responses yields better data. Logging on to the system is

simple _ _ _ _ _ _ difficult

The description of the new desalinization process is

interesting _ _ _ _ _ _ boring
Have respondents indicate a priority among a number of alternatives Ranking. When using ranking questions, be sure to give instructions about what method (in this case, numbering) the respondents should use to rank the items. Please rank the following work schedules in order of preference. Put a 1 next to the schedule you would most like to have, a 2 next to your second choice, and so on.

8:00–4:30________9:00–5:30_____

8:30–5:00_____flexible_____
Ask open-ended questions Short answer. The respondent writes a brief answer using phrases or sentences. What do you feel are the major advantages of the new parts-requisitioning policy?

1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________
Give respondents an opportunity to present fuller responses Short essay. Although essay questions can yield information you never would have found using closed-ended questions, you will receive fewer responses because they require more effort. Also, essays cannot be quantified precisely, as data from other types of questions can. The new parts-requisitioning policy has been in effect for a year. How well do you think it is working?

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