RESEARCH NOTES
DESIGNING A QUESTIONNAIRE
Pilot test
Pilot test is a crucial step in the design of questionnaire before data collection begins. It will help to detect flaws in the questionnaire in terms of content, grammar and format. First, ask you colleagues, family or friends to comment on the questionnaire. This will pick up any mistakes in terms of content, grammar and format. This should be followed by asking the potential respondents to answer the questionnaire and provide their feedback. For those questions which you feel may be confusing or sensitive, it is important to ask the respondents to comment specifically during the pilot test.
Figure 1. Conceptual Model of Self Care (Simplified)
CONCLUSIONS
A good questionnaire should be valid, reliable, clear, succinct and interesting. It is important to design the questionnaire based on a conceptual framework, scrutinise each question for relevance and clarity, and think of the analysis you are going to perform at the end of the day. A final touch-up will make a difference in the response rate and always pilot-test the questionnaire to perfect the questionnaire. Now you are ready to collect the data!
USEFUL READINGS
- Boynton PM, Greenhalgh T. Selecting, designing, and developing your questionnaire. BMJ. 2004 May 29;328(7451):1312-5 [PubMed] [Full text]
- Wilson A, Williams M, Hancock B. Research Approaches in Primary Care. Oxon: Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, 2000 [Link]
- McColl E, Thomas R. The Use and Design of Questionnaires. London: Royal College of General Practitioners, 2000. [Link]
- Edwards P, Roberts I, Clarke M, et al. Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires: systematic review. BMJ. 2002 May 18;324(7347):1183 [PubMed] [Full text]
- Leung WC. How to design a questionnaire. Student BMJ. 2001;9:187-9 [Full text]