writing a good questionnaire

Keep your language simple

Phrase your questions in simple, unambiguous language, which will be instantly understood. Don’t use any jargon or abbreviations which might be unknown to some of your target sample.
Check over your grammar and spelling very carefully, and if necessary get someone else to do this aswell. Mistakes look very unprofessional and give the impression that you are not very serious about what you’re doing. If you couldn’t be bothered, why should someone else be bothered to reply?

Don’t make it too formal or informal

It’s not an official document; just use “standard”, neutral vocabulary and grammar, being careful, however, not to use colloquial language.

Start with interesting questions

Just as a good introduction to an essay will grab the attention of the reader, so interesting, relevant initial questions will immediately involve the respondent in the questionnaire, and make it more likely that they will continue on through the whole thing. Save the more complicated ones for later. You could begin with one or two non-specialised personal questions, or maybe phrase questions in the third person rather than the first: How does your company feel about equal pay rather than How do you feel about equal pay?

Avoid leading questions

These are questions which presume a specific response. For example, Which train company do you use most often? presumes that the respondent travels by train. If they don’t, they can’t answer.

Limit, or avoid, the use of open-ended questions

Open-ended questions require an original, personal response to a question. For example, What do you consider to be the most important qualities of a Personnel Officer? Answers to such questions obviously take a lot more time than yes/no answers or rating scales. Definitely don’t start with questions like this; if you want to include you or two, put them at the end. And don’t leave too much space for the answer; if the respondent sees half a page of blank paper, they may feel that they have to fill it all, and consequently be discouraged from answering at all. Open-ended questions are also more difficult to analyse and categorize.

Use simple rating scales or lists of choices

If the respondent is faced with a long list of scales or choices, they may be put off. Maybe consider five as a maximum.

Put your questions in logical order

There should be a flow of questions; one question should logically follow the previous one. You could perhaps start with one or two general questions, and then become more specific.