Questionnaire Designing

1
Questionnaire Designing

• Developing the best instrument to collect data
  for your research

2
Steps in research project

• Finalize the method of research
• Set schedule
• Determine population and sample
• Design and pre-test the questionnaire
• Training of interviewers
• Implementation of survey
• Compile and computerize data
• Data analysis and final report

3
What is a questionnaire?

• A questionnaire is an instrument that is used for
  collecting information (data), which is later
  analyzed and summarized to answer your research
  question
• A questionnaire is the most important part of the
  research project.
• Remember Garbage in garbage out!

4
Types of information collected

• Descriptions about the respondent and their
  background (demographics)
• Behaviors and habits (e.g., smoking, diet,
  exercise)
• Preferences or opinions
• Medical data (e.g., height, weight, FBG, blood
  pressure, etc.)
• Social data (e.g., grades in exams)

5
Categories of questionnaires

• By method of data collection
• Self-administered
• Interview schedules
• Data extraction forms
• By type of data to be collected
• Quantitative data (numbers, categories)
• Qualitative data (opinions, beliefs)

6
Common types of questionnaires

• Household interview schedules
• Census
• Demographic surveys
• Individual interview schedules
• KAP questionnaires
• In-depth interviews

7
Commonly used terms

• Interview and Interviewer
• Respondent (interviewee)
• Informed consent and confidentiality
• Codes, coding (answer categories)
• Other (specify)
• No answer/missing information
• Pre-testing
• Internal consistency

8
Types of questions

• Respondent identification
• Demographic information
• Pre-coded questions
• Open-ended questions
• Best-choice questions
• True/false questions

9
Biases in questionnaires

• Incomplete list of responses in a question
• Non-response bias, when a large number of
  respondents say I dont know
• Response bias, when respondent tries to tailor
  his response to what he thinks the interviewer
  wants
• Wording - using leading statements
• Choices may affect the response

10
Examples objective

• What is your age? (Record age in completed years)
• What was your age on your last birthday?
• How many children do you have?
• What is your occupation? (Specify)
• How many rooms are there in your house?
• Do you own this house? (Yes/No)

11
Examples objective

• Mutually non-exclusive categories
• What is your average monthly income?
• Less than SR 10,000
• SR 10,000 to SR 20,000
• SR 20,000 to SR 30,000
• SR 30,000 or more

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Examples objective

• Mutually exclusive categories
• What is your average monthly income?
• Less than SR 10,000
• SR 10,000 to SR 19,999
• SR 20,000 to SR 29,999
• SR 30,000 or more

13
Examples subjective

• Are you satisfied with the quality of services in
  this hospital?
• Yes
• No
• Dont Know/No Answer
• A majority of respondents would answer Yes to
  this question. Why?

14
Examples subjective

• What is your impression about the quality of
  services in this hospital?
• I am fully satisfied
• I am somewhat satisfied
• I am not fully satisfied
• I am not satisfied at all
• Dont Know/No Answer

15
Sensitive questions

• Age and income questions elicit private
  information
• What is your age?
• What is your monthly income?
• To make them less sensitive, give a range
• What was your age on your last birthday?
• Less than 40 years
• 40 49 years
• 50 59 years
• 60 years and above

16
General tips for questions

• Questions should be short, clear, simple and
  logical
• Start with easy and less sensitive questions
• Gradually move to more difficult and sensitive
  questions
• Keep as few response categories as possible
• Always try to use pre-coded questions

17
General tips for interviews

• Greet the respondent
• Introduce yourself
• Explain the objective of the research
• Explain what questions will be asked
• Seek informed consent before starting
• Keep the interview short (max. 30 minutes)
• Thank the respondent at the end

18
Considering data entry

• Questionnaires must be designed with data entry
  and analysis steps in mind
• Pre-code the questions as much as possible
• Follow a certain pattern in the format of the
  questionnaire (study the example questionnaire
  given)
• Sequencing of questions and sections
• Skip patterns
• Appropriate space to record the numbers (e.g.,
  fasting blood glucose level, SBP / DBP)

19
Making an empty database

• Use SPSS, Epi-Info or other statistical software
  to make an empty database of your questionnaire
• As a pre-test, enter 5-10 questionnaire to
  identify and rectify potential problems in data
  entry.

20
Next steps in research projects

• Schedule meetings with your advisors (both
  Community Medicine and other)
• Develop a plan of your research project (who will
  do what and when)
• Design and pre-test your questionnaire
• Learn how to enter data in SPSS
• Learn how to do simple analysis in SPSS