Questionaire Design

Question 1

Choose one of the principles of questionnaire-writing (from Dillman 2007 – chapter 2) that is
violated by each of the following questions.
A. Avoid double-barreled questions
B. Avoid potentially objectionable questions
C. State both sides of the attitude in question stems.
D. Avoid asking respondents to say yes in order to mean no.

1) “To what extent do you agree with this statement: It’s easier for people to find work in this
community than it was about one year ago.”
2) “Do you favor or oppose not allowing the state to raise taxes without approval of 60% of the
voters?”
3) “Should the city build a new swimming pool that includes lanes for swimming laps and a
heater for winter use?”
4) “How much would you like your child to develop an interest in sports as he/she grows up?”
5) “How many toilets are there in your place of residence?”
6) “Should the city manager not be directly responsible to the mayor?”
7) “What was your total income from all sources in the last year? ___________”
8) “Should the state extend the hunting seasons for deer and turkeys?”

Answer 1

1) c
2) d
3) a
4) c
5) b
6) c
7) b
8) a

Question 2

50) Being polite and asking for advice from respondents is a way of reducing social cost. (T/F)

Answer 2

False:

These increase rewards.

Question 3

51) Sending a paid return stamp with a mail survey can be used as a way to establish trust. (T/F)

Answer 3

True

Question 4

52) Questionnaires should have as few words as possible, even if that means that they will have
incomplete sentences. (T/F)

Answer 4

false

Question 5

53) To keep the number of words down it is important to ask about several issues in the same
question, i.e. “Would you like to see more signage about wildlife and park rules around the
greenway?” (T/F)

Answer 5

false

Question 6

54) It is important to have questions that have simple words but are technically accurate in our
questionnaires. (T/F)

Answer 6

true

Question 7

55) Questionnaires should have the sensitive questions (i.e. ethnicity) at the beginning to get
them out of the way as quickly as possible. (T/F)

Answer 7

false

Question 8

56) The first question in a questionnaire should be:
a) Irrelevant, we will not use it anyways
b) Important, complex and sensitive, it should demonstrate that this is an important
questionnaire
c) Broad, interesting and easy, connecting the respondent to the surveyor
d) All of the above
e) None of the above

Answer 8

c-broad, intersting and easy

Question 9

For the following statements, please indicate what part of the social exchange theory they refer
to:
a. Establishing trust
b. Reducing social cost/Increasing rewards
c. Promoting design validity

1) “Hello, I am an NCSU student and I am performing a survey…”
2) “This questionnaire is being given to respondents from across the state …”
3) “This survey will help us learn more about hunters and their views…”
4) “I have not had much luck finding someone to interview, would you be willing to answer a
couple of questions for my class project?”

Answer 9

1) a
2) c
3) c
4) a **Could this be:
b. Reducing social cost/Increasing rewards?

Question 10

Describe the 5 types of error that could impact our class survey and describe one way to
reduce each type of error.

Answer 10

1. coverage - missing data
2. sampling - too little or too many people
3. non-response - people who aren’t participating if they are different than who are
4. measurement - questions don’t make sense or don’t work
5. interviewer effect - person collecting info influences how people respond