Design Questionnaire Gary Ma, IC

Sources of information Josie Csete, Seminar on “Tips of creating and conducting survey”, EDU HKPU, April 15, POSH, Occupational Health Practice - Assignment No. 3 utorials/OHP03.rtf

Purpose of Questionnaires To gather data for analyze: Facts e.g.academic background, age, etc. Opinions –attitudes, views, beliefs, preference, etc. e.g. The administration of the POSH Program was well-managed?

4 Principles of Survey Questionnaires Formulate research questions Construct questionnaires items Format questionnaire Conduct pilot test

Principles of Survey Questionnaires Formulate research questions

Research Question and Thesis

Formulate research questions Why survey? –Obtain data for analyze to answer the thesis objective(s) in terms to satisfy the thesis aim. Research questions are the “blueprint” that guide the design of the survey questions of the questionnaire.

What to examine? Attitudes –like or dislike knowledge Behavior –do or don’t do Attributes –personal or demographic characteristics e.g. What is your present age?

Principles of Survey Questionnaires Formulate research questions Construct questionnaires items

Construct Questionnaire Items Two goals of each question: provides accurate information to answer research questions does not interfere with respondent’s ability or willingness to provide the information. –non-directive question

Types of Questionnaire Opened-end questions e.g. How enjoyable did you find the presentation? Closed-ended questions –structured with ordered response Likert scales such as “almost always” through “almost never” –structured with unordered response often used with “mark all that apply”

Rules for Writing Questions Items should … not be too general ask for only one piece of information –avoid double-barrel question be short and simple –with a manageable set of response choices not contain abbreviations or complex terminology

Rules for Writing Questions (cont’d) Items about … knowledge should include a “don’t know” option about attitude or opinion should not include a “no opinion” option

Rules for Writing Questions (cont’d) Structured items should … have enough choices to provide meaningful information (avoid yes/no) have mutually exclusive response choice

Mutually Exclusive Choice What is your annual income? 100, , , , , ,000 above 250,000

Mutually Exclusive Choice (cont’d) What is your annual income? 100, , , , , ,999 above 250,000

Rules for Writing Questions (cont’d) Structured items should … have enough choices to provide meaningful information (avoid yes/no) have mutually exclusive response choice offer choices that cover every likely answer

Rules for Writing Questions (cont’d) Structured items should … have enough choices to provide meaningful information (avoid yes/no) have mutually exclusive response choice offer choices that cover every likely answer have balanced response choices

Balanced Response Choices Balance the positive and negative response steps clearly identify the meaning of each possible response match the type of response to the items

Example of a Balanced Response Choices Question Choice of response: Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Balanced Response Choices Balance the positive and negative response steps clearly identify the meaning of each possible response match the type of response to the items avoid using many types of response within one questionnaire

Rules for Writing Questions (cont’d) There are also other rules that are being covered in Assignment No. 3 Refer to the website: orials/OHP03.rtf

Principles of Survey Questionnaires Formulate research questions Construct questionnaires items Format questionnaire

Make it look quick & easy to fill out lot of white space questions flow logically provide a way out (skip or terminate) for respondents who don’t fit the study criteria.

A Way Out Q2.Are you a registered safety officer? Yes No, please go to Q4. Q4Are you planning to register as a safety office in the next 12 months? Yes No, thank you for answering this questionnaire. Please stop and return to the questionnaire to the sender

Format Questionnaire (cont’d) For the specific items: follow the previous rules!!! Begin a few easy, interesting, non- threatening questions group items into logically coherent sections (by topic and/or response options) put sensitive questions at end of relevant section

Exercise Review a survey questionnaire on “Work and Family”

Format Questionnaire (cont’d) Other options: offer survey results offer a reward of returning completed questionnaire

Principles of Survey Questionnaires Formulate research questions Construct questionnaires items Format questionnaire Conduct pilot test

Conduct a Pilot Test Helps determine weakness Ask questions like: –was the language appropriate? –did the items make sense? Were they clear? –Did items include all reasonable response choice? Even 3 pilot tests can greatly improve the quality and structure of the questionnaire

Further Readings The Survey Kit Arlene Fink Series editor by Sage.1995 (ISBN ). Survey Research Methods (Second Ed) by Floyd J. Fowler, Jr. Sage How to Conduct Surveys By Arlene Fink & Jacqueline Kosecoff Sage: Mail and Telephone Surveys by Don A. Dillman. John Wiley & Sons 1978.