Preparation

Is a survey method the most appropriate research tool to answer the question? Questionnaires are useful to investigate opinions or attitudes of a population. If a questionnaire is chosen as the research tool, the next step is to identify whether a validated instrument already exists. If a tool needs to be designed, what format would be of greatest value in answering the enquiry; a structured interview or a self-completed written form? The latter can gather a large amount of rich data, while the former provides a deeper understanding through semistructured questioning.3

Self-completed questionnaires require careful construction with clear articulation of purpose. Their success depends strongly on format as well as the wording; use an attractive, easy to navigate presentation and ensure the length is kept as short as possible. Consider whether to include open or closed questions, or a combination of both. Questions should only include a single point, written unambiguously and contained within short sentences. Wording should be appropriate for your survey population and avoid jargon to reduce potential confusion. Closed questions can provide large amounts of easily handled (often numerical) data. Open questions, as in free …