AT A GLANCE

Designing a Survey Questionnaire

  • Write out your purpose, and review your research question and hypothesis to determine the kinds of questions to ask.
  • Figure out how to reach the respondents you need.
  • Draft potential questions, and make sure that each question calls for a short, specific answer.
  • Test the questions on several people, and revise questions that seem unfair, ambiguous, too hard to answer, or too time consuming.
  • For a questionnaire that is to be mailed or emailed, draft a cover letter explaining your purpose.
  • On the final version of the questionnaire, leave adequate space for answers.
  • Proofread the questionnaire carefully.