Designing Questionnaires

Discussion Questions What do you think about the questionnaires? Would you complete them? Do you understand the questions? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of the questionnaires?

HAVE A CLEAR PURPOSE! MAKE SURE EVERYBODY INVOLVED HAS THE SAME UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE! CONSIDER EVERY QUESTION AND THE DATA IT WILL GATHER IN LIGHT OF THE PURPOSE!

Covering letter Personalise if possible Explain purpose of questionnaire Include named contact What will happen to responses –Confidentiality –Publication –Decision making What is in it for respondent Length

Questionnaire Clear instructions Sensibly ordered Large font size Well spaced out Short length Instructions at start Same font throughout Have consistent write-in boxes / options for answers

Questions Easy to understand –Are you able to communicate effectively in the local language of the Hellenic Republic? –Can you speak Greek? Completely unambiguous –If there is any chance a question can be misinterpreted, then it will be misinterpreted

Questions Where were you born? –In Bishop Auckland General Hospital –In Bishop Auckland –In County Durham –In England –In Great Britain –In the United Kingdom

Harmonised Questions Scottish Government working on a set of harmonised core questions –Consultation –Cognitive testing –Pilot testing Time and financial savings Allows comparisons to other surveys Minimises risk of offence Minimises risk of misunderstanding and poor data