Create your questionnaire

 

Logical positioning and sequence of questions

Make sure that your questionnaire is constructed logically.

 

• Before starting your questionnaire evoke the right expectations about the aim and the subject, the number of questions and the time it takes to complete the survey. Also mention the way of processing and the possible feedback to your respondent.
   
• At the beginning, try to handle the research subject and the aspects of it generally. Then you can move on to more specific questions.

  Example:
  1) Do you ever make use of an online survey tool??

  2) Which online survey tools do you know?

  3) Do you ever make use of the NETQ GROW online survey tool?

  4) How often do you use the NETQ GROW online survey tool?
   

• Sensitive questions (for example about: income, political preferences, sexual preferences and experiences etc.) can best be posed at the end of the questionnaire. In this way, you will already have gathered all the important answers if the respondent decides to stop because of the sensitivity.
   
• If you ask your respondent about background details (for example: age, sex, home town, household, education or job, sector etc.) make sure you do this in the very last question. You then avoid not having answers for your research aim if respondents stop halfway through. The exception to this rule obviously applies if you need this information directly for screening for and routing through your questionnaire.

 

Relevant routing for each respondent

Make sure that each type of respondent follows a logical route through the questionnaire. If a question is not applicable to a certain (group of) respondent(s), it should not be asked and should therefore not appear on the screen.

 

Example: You want to pose a specific question only to men, or to people within a specified age group, or to users of a certain product or brand, or to people who meet a combination of the previous characteristics and others.

 

Attractive content and format

Respondents take an attractive questionnaire more seriously and they are more likely to complete and finish it.

 

• First make sure that the target group you invite to complete your questionnaire matches the subject and its content.
   
• In addition, create a neat and well organised lay-out for your questionnaire using a format template.
   
• For longer questionnaires start different sets of questions on a new page. If your respondent has to scroll a lot across the screen, your questionnaire becomes confusing and uninviting and in general the motivation will decline.
   
• Keep things enjoyable for the respondent. For example, add a picture question or a picture answer or show a video explanation.
   
• And last but not least: Check your questionnaire for spelling mistakes and awkward phrasing.

 

Conclusion

• At the end of the questionnaire (and before the background questions), always give your respondent the opportunity to make. any remarks and/or suggestions.
   
• Any contact information can best be given after the background questions, for example on the final page of your questionnaire.
   
• Finally, always thank your respondent for their cooperation.