QuestionnaireQuestionnaireConstructionConstructionGuidelinesGuidelines

C/IL 102C/IL 102

Dr. BeidlerDr. Beidler

Questionnaire ConstructionQuestionnaire Construction

Avoiding human subjects issuesAvoiding human subjects issues Types of responses to questionsTypes of responses to questions Demographic questionsDemographic questions QMSQMS

Human SubjectsHuman Subjects

You You cannotcannot ask questions regarding a ask questions regarding a person’s preferences, desires, and person’s preferences, desires, and interests on delicate or private mattersinterests on delicate or private matters– How much booze do you drink each night?How much booze do you drink each night?– Are you straight, bi, or gay?Are you straight, bi, or gay?– What is your drug of choice?What is your drug of choice?

Human SubjectsHuman Subjects

You You cancan ask them what they think ask them what they think– How many beers do you think a typical How many beers do you think a typical

sophomore drinks on weekend?sophomore drinks on weekend?– What percentage of the University do What percentage of the University do

you think is straight?you think is straight?– What do you believe is the college What do you believe is the college

student drug of choice?student drug of choice?

Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses

Easy AnalysisEasy Analysis Radio ButtonsRadio Buttons

Exactly one responseExactly one response Check BoxesCheck Boxes

Many responses (none to Many responses (none to all)all)

Hard AnalysisHard Analysis Text BoxesText Boxes

Small free form responseSmall free form response Text AreasText Areas

Large free form responseLarge free form response

Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses

Radio responsesRadio responses– You want most of your questions to have this You want most of your questions to have this

type of responsetype of response– Select exactly one of two or more choicesSelect exactly one of two or more choices– Example:Example:

Yes | NoYes | NoFemale | MaleFemale | MaleFreshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | OtherOtherScaled: Terrible | Bad | OK | Good | GreatScaled: Terrible | Bad | OK | Good | Great

Scales of 5 choices seem to work best.Scales of 5 choices seem to work best.

Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses

Check box responsesCheck box responses– You may want to have some of theseYou may want to have some of these– Choose zero or more from a listChoose zero or more from a list– May include May include othersothers options. options.– Examples:Examples:

List of sportsList of sportsList of foodsList of foods Include Include othersothers so the client can fill in the so the client can fill in the

sports you forgotsports you forgot

Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses

Free form responsesFree form responses– Text boxText box

Space for a word or phraseSpace for a word or phrase

– Text areaText areaSpace for an extended responseSpace for an extended responseUseful in a real questionnaire as a space for Useful in a real questionnaire as a space for

detailed responsesdetailed responses

Keep these types of responses to a Keep these types of responses to a minimumminimum– Hard to quantify.Hard to quantify.

Demographic QuestionsDemographic Questions

Questions that quantify your audienceQuestions that quantify your audience Demographics provide a standard for Demographics provide a standard for

measuring other responses.measuring other responses. Use radio responsesUse radio responses

– GenderGender– ClassClass– CollegeCollege– Home stateHome state

Choose a few of these that are Choose a few of these that are appropriate for your questionnaire.appropriate for your questionnaire.

– Age [Radio groups <18 Age [Radio groups <18 [18,19] …[18,19] …

– Avoid race, religion, …Avoid race, religion, …– Don’t forget othersDon’t forget others

Using QMSUsing QMS

Building a questionnaireBuilding a questionnaire– InitializeInitialize

TitleTitleBrief descriptionBrief description

– Build/EditBuild/Edit FinalizeFinalize PopulatePopulate AnalyzeAnalyze

QMSQMS

Team FormationTeam FormationTitle : Abstract : Team members : Title : Abstract : Team members : Create FormCreate Form

Team FormationTeam Formation

All errors during team formation will All errors during team formation will significantly reduce the grade for significantly reduce the grade for that part of the assignment for all that part of the assignment for all team members. NO EXCEPTIONSteam members. NO EXCEPTIONS

The Abstract: A couple of sentences The Abstract: A couple of sentences that provide a basic overview and that provide a basic overview and might entice people to complete your might entice people to complete your questionnaire.questionnaire.

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Add entries one at a timeAdd entries one at a time– Select type of entry with radio button on Select type of entry with radio button on

the leftthe left– Fill in corresponding information on the Fill in corresponding information on the

rightright– Submit additionSubmit addition

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Add entries one at a timeAdd entries one at a time– Select type of entry with radio button on Select type of entry with radio button on

the leftthe left– Fill in corresponding information on the Fill in corresponding information on the

rightright– Submit additionSubmit addition

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Five types of entriesFive types of entries– StatementsStatements

For inserting explanations and directionsFor inserting explanations and directions

– Radio Button GroupRadio Button Group– Check box groupCheck box group– Text boxText box– Text areaText area

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

As items are added a sample of the As items are added a sample of the questionnaire appears at the top of questionnaire appears at the top of the pagethe page

Questions may be moved around or Questions may be moved around or deleteddeleted

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

No one can access your No one can access your questionnaire while you are editingquestionnaire while you are editing

It must finalized to be made It must finalized to be made available.available.

Building A QuestionnaireBuilding A Questionnaire

Using QMSUsing QMS

Once your questionnaire is finalized Once your questionnaire is finalized then others can reply to itthen others can reply to it

Email your friendsEmail your friends– Have them email their friendsHave them email their friends

Have them email their friendsHave them email their friends– Have them email their friendsHave them email their friends

……