Questionnaire Design

Subject : Research Method

Sub code : 18MBA23
 OVERVIEW

• Questionnaire Design – meaning.

• Types of Questionnaires.
– Closed-ended questions
– Open-ended questions
• Process/Steps in Designing Questionnaire .
Questionnaire Design – Meaning

A questionnaire design is consist of

formalized and pre-specified set of
questions designed to obtain responses
from potential respondents.
 Questionnaire – Types Of
Questions

1. Closed- Ended Questions

2. Open- Ended Questions

 Closed-Ended Questions
• A questions with a one answer usually Yes
or No.
• Closed-ended questions can be structured:
– Multiple Choice questions.
– Simple alternative questions.
 Example for closed-ended
• How do you rate the services offered by
the bank.?

• Do you like the pizza?

[YES]/ [NO]
 Open-Ended Questions

• A questions with a lengthy answers which usually

involves someone’s opinion.

• Example -1)Views or opinion about Economic

growth of a country.
2) Views on climate change.
 Process of Questionnaire Design

1. Decide the information required.

2. Define the target respondents.
3. Choose the method(s) of reaching your target respondents.
4. Decide on question content.
5. Develop the question wording.
6. Put questions into a meaningful order and format.
7. Check the length of the questionnaire.
8. Pre-test the questionnaire.
 1. Decide the information required
• The first step is to decide what are the things
one needs to know from the respondent in
order to meet the survey’s objective?

• Eg- A company wants to conduct a survey on

Employee exit interview , here the company
may ask the employees about reasons for
leaving the company & receive insights
through feedback from exiting employees.
 2.Define the target respondent
• Here the researcher must define the population
about which he/she wishes to generalize from
the sample data to be collected.
• Example-
1) Demographic Characteristics- Such as age,
gender, urban/rural residence, income level etc.
2) Job or Social Category - such as factory
workers, social leaders, university students etc.
3.Choose the method(s) of reaching your
target respondent.

• Personal interviews .

• Group or focus interviews.

• Mailed questionnaires.

• Telephone interview.
 4.Decide the question content
• There are a series of questions that should be
posed as the researcher develop the survey
questionnaire
• Such as
– “Is this question sufficient to generate the
required information?”
– “Can the respondent answer the question
correctly?”
 5.Develop the question wording.
• Survey questions can be classified into two
forms, i.e. closed-ended, open-ended.
– Closed-ended questions provides the respondent with
an easy method of indicating his answer - he does not
have to think about how to articulate his answer.

– Responses can be easily classified, making analysis

very straightforward.
6.Put question into a meaningful order and
format.
• Opening questions- Opening questions should be easy to
answer , and it should be understandable .
• Question flow- Questions should flow in some kind of
psychological order, Questions on one subject, or one
particular aspect of a subject, should be grouped together.
• Question variety- Respondents become bored quickly
and restless when asked similar questions, therefore variety
questions should be added which improves response.
• Closing questions- sensitive questions.
 7.Check the length of the questionnaire.

• The physical appearance of a questionnaire can

have a significant effect on data obtained .
• In general it is best for a questionnaire to be as
short as possible.
• A long questionnaire leads to a long interview.(poor
considered, hurried answers from respondents)
 8.Pre-test the questionnaire.
• Test the questionnaire on a small sample of
similar respondents , here the aim is to detect
any flaws in your question and correct these
prior to main survey.
 Conclusion
• Questionnaire are main and easy way to collect
primary data.
• Using a standardized questionnaires will give us
appropriate data and will yield a valid study.
• One must follow all the basic guidelines of
constructing a questionnaire and test it before
using it.
Thank you !