 Decide whether you want to ask open questions, closed questions, or a mix of both!

 An advantage of closed questions: The responses are easier to analyze. Example of closed question: › Do you consider waiting tables a high skill job, a medium skill job or a low skill job? Sample Answers: › Low skill, medium skill, high skill  Sample Results: 5 out of 7 people said they think waiting tables requires a low skill level.

 An advantage of open questions: You get lots of good quotes and info to use in your paper! You could follow up the following closed question with an open question. Like this: › Closed: Do you consider waiting tables a high skill job, a medium skill job or a low skill job? › Open: Why do you think that?

Sample Answer: “I think that waiting tables requires a medium skill level because you have to read, memorize and interact socially at a high level.” Sample Results: Twenty percent of the people surveyed said they think waiting tables requires a medium skill level. One respondent wrote: “I think that waiting tables requires a medium skill level because you have to read, memorize and interact socially at a high level.”

Avoid forming a solid conclusion until you have finished your research. For example, you might firmly believe that waiters are treated poorly because people think their job requires a low skill level. As a result, you might write survey questions that lead the respondent to answer a certain way. Like this: › Do you agree that waiters are often mistreated because people think waiting tables is a low-skill job?

 The researcher should avoid forming a solid conclusion as she researches. She should keep an open mind to several possibilities.  Non-leading: › Do you consider waiting tables a high skill job, a medium skill job or a low skill job? › Why do you think that?

 Research Question: › How do people view a waiters’ level of literacy at Denny’s? How does that affect the way they treat Denny’s waiters?  Unrelated question: › Do you prefer to eat out or cook?  Unrelated question: › What is your favorite item on the Denny’s menu?

 Related questions: › Have you ever complained to a manager about a waiter/waitress? › Why did you complain?

 Don’t ask questions that they won’t understand: › Example: Does a waiter need a high level of social literacy, a medium level of social literacy or a low level of social literacy?  Respondents might not understand what you mean by “social literacy.”

 Example: Do you consider waiting tables a high skill job, a medium skill job or a low skill job?

 What do you think about waiters? Respondents may be confused at this question because it is broad and vague.

 Have you ever reported a waiter/waitress to his/her manager?  If so, why?

 Like this: Do you agree that waiters are mistreated and people who mistreat waiters should be punished by law?

 Now you are ready to write strong and clear survey questions!