sample of research paper questionnaire

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21 Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples

Questionnaire: Definition

A questionnaire is defined a market research instrument that consists of questions or prompts to elicit and collect responses from a sample of respondents. A questionnaire is typically a mix of open-ended questions and close-ended questions ; the latter allowing for respondents to enlist their views in detail.

A questionnaire can be used in both, qualitative market research as well as quantitative market research with the use of different types of questions .

LEARN ABOUT: Open-Ended Questions

Types of Questionnaires

We have learnt that a questionnaire could either be structured or free-flow. To explain this better:

• Structured Questionnaires: A structured questionnaires helps collect quantitative data . In this case, the questionnaire is designed in a way that it collects very specific type of information. It can be used to initiate a formal enquiry on collect data to prove or disprove a prior hypothesis.
• Unstructured Questionnaires: An unstructured questionnaire collects qualitative data . The questionnaire in this case has a basic structure and some branching questions but nothing that limits the responses of a respondent. The questions are more open-ended.

LEARN ABOUT:   Structured Question

Types of Questions used in a Questionnaire

A questionnaire can consist of many types of questions . Some of the commonly and widely used question types though, are:

• Open-Ended Questions: One of the commonly used question type in questionnaire is an open-ended question . These questions help collect in-depth data from a respondent as there is a huge scope to respond in detail.
• Dichotomous Questions: The dichotomous question is a “yes/no” close-ended question . This question is generally used in case of the need of basic validation. It is the easiest question type in a questionnaire.
• Multiple-Choice Questions: An easy to administer and respond to, question type in a questionnaire is the multiple-choice question . These questions are close-ended questions with either a single select multiple choice question or a multiple select multiple choice question. Each multiple choice question consists of an incomplete stem (question), right answer or answers, close alternatives, distractors and incorrect answers. Depending on the objective of the research, a mix of the above option types can be used.
• Net Promoter Score (NPS) Question: Another commonly used question type in a questionnaire is the Net Promoter Score (NPS) Question where one single question collects data on the referencability of the research topic in question.
• Scaling Questions: Scaling questions are widely used in a questionnaire as they make responding to the questionnaire, very easy. These questions are based on the principles of the 4 measurement scales – nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio .

Questionnaires help enterprises collect valuable data to help them make well-informed business decisions. There are powerful tools available in the market that allows using multiple question types, ready to use survey format templates, robust analytics, and many more features to conduct comprehensive market research.

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For example, an enterprise wants to conduct market research to understand what pricing would be best for their new product to capture a higher market share. In such a case, a questionnaire for competitor analysis can be sent to the targeted audience using a powerful market research survey software which can help the enterprise conduct 360 market research that will enable them to make strategic business decisions.

Now that we have learned what a questionnaire is and its use in market research , some examples and samples of widely used questionnaire templates on the QuestionPro platform are as below:

LEARN ABOUT: Speaker evaluation form

Customer Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples

QuestionPro specializes in end-to-end Customer Questionnaire Templates that can be used to evaluate a customer journey right from indulging with a brand to the continued use and referenceability of the brand. These templates form excellent samples to form your own questionnaire and begin testing your customer satisfaction and experience based on customer feedback.

LEARN ABOUT: Structured Questionnaire

USE THIS FREE TEMPLATE

Employee & Human Resource (HR) Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples

QuestionPro has built a huge repository of employee questionnaires and HR questionnaires that can be readily deployed to collect feedback from the workforce on an organization on multiple parameters like employee satisfaction, benefits evaluation, manager evaluation , exit formalities etc. These templates provide a holistic overview of collecting actionable data from employees.

Community Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples

The QuestionPro repository of community questionnaires helps collect varied data on all community aspects. This template library includes popular questionnaires such as community service, demographic questionnaires, psychographic questionnaires, personal questionnaires and much more.

Academic Evaluation Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples

Another vastly used section of QuestionPro questionnaire templates are the academic evaluation questionnaires . These questionnaires are crafted to collect in-depth data about academic institutions and the quality of teaching provided, extra-curricular activities etc and also feedback about other educational activities.

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Home » Questionnaire – Definition, Types, and Examples

Questionnaire – Definition, Types, and Examples

Table of Contents

Questionnaire

Definition:

A Questionnaire is a research tool or survey instrument that consists of a set of questions or prompts designed to gather information from individuals or groups of people.

It is a standardized way of collecting data from a large number of people by asking them a series of questions related to a specific topic or research objective. The questions may be open-ended or closed-ended, and the responses can be quantitative or qualitative. Questionnaires are widely used in research, marketing, social sciences, healthcare, and many other fields to collect data and insights from a target population.

History of Questionnaire

The history of questionnaires can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who used questionnaires as a means of assessing public opinion. However, the modern history of questionnaires began in the late 19th century with the rise of social surveys.

The first social survey was conducted in the United States in 1874 by Francis A. Walker, who used a questionnaire to collect data on labor conditions. In the early 20th century, questionnaires became a popular tool for conducting social research, particularly in the fields of sociology and psychology.

One of the most influential figures in the development of the questionnaire was the psychologist Raymond Cattell, who in the 1940s and 1950s developed the personality questionnaire, a standardized instrument for measuring personality traits. Cattell’s work helped establish the questionnaire as a key tool in personality research.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the use of questionnaires expanded into other fields, including market research, public opinion polling, and health surveys. With the rise of computer technology, questionnaires became easier and more cost-effective to administer, leading to their widespread use in research and business settings.

Today, questionnaires are used in a wide range of settings, including academic research, business, healthcare, and government. They continue to evolve as a research tool, with advances in computer technology and data analysis techniques making it easier to collect and analyze data from large numbers of participants.

Types of Questionnaire

Types of Questionnaires are as follows:

Structured Questionnaire

This type of questionnaire has a fixed format with predetermined questions that the respondent must answer. The questions are usually closed-ended, which means that the respondent must select a response from a list of options.

Unstructured Questionnaire

An unstructured questionnaire does not have a fixed format or predetermined questions. Instead, the interviewer or researcher can ask open-ended questions to the respondent and let them provide their own answers.

Open-ended Questionnaire

An open-ended questionnaire allows the respondent to answer the question in their own words, without any pre-determined response options. The questions usually start with phrases like “how,” “why,” or “what,” and encourage the respondent to provide more detailed and personalized answers.

Close-ended Questionnaire

In a closed-ended questionnaire, the respondent is given a set of predetermined response options to choose from. This type of questionnaire is easier to analyze and summarize, but may not provide as much insight into the respondent’s opinions or attitudes.

Mixed Questionnaire

A mixed questionnaire is a combination of open-ended and closed-ended questions. This type of questionnaire allows for more flexibility in terms of the questions that can be asked, and can provide both quantitative and qualitative data.

Pictorial Questionnaire:

In a pictorial questionnaire, instead of using words to ask questions, the questions are presented in the form of pictures, diagrams or images. This can be particularly useful for respondents who have low literacy skills, or for situations where language barriers exist. Pictorial questionnaires can also be useful in cross-cultural research where respondents may come from different language backgrounds.

Types of Questions in Questionnaire

The types of Questions in Questionnaire are as follows:

Multiple Choice Questions

These questions have several options for participants to choose from. They are useful for getting quantitative data and can be used to collect demographic information.

• a. Red b . Blue c. Green d . Yellow

Rating Scale Questions

These questions ask participants to rate something on a scale (e.g. from 1 to 10). They are useful for measuring attitudes and opinions.

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?

Open-Ended Questions

These questions allow participants to answer in their own words and provide more in-depth and detailed responses. They are useful for getting qualitative data.

• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your community?

Likert Scale Questions

These questions ask participants to rate how much they agree or disagree with a statement. They are useful for measuring attitudes and opinions.

How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement:

“I enjoy exercising regularly.”

• a . Strongly Agree
• c . Neither Agree nor Disagree
• d . Disagree
• e . Strongly Disagree

Demographic Questions

These questions ask about the participant’s personal information such as age, gender, ethnicity, education level, etc. They are useful for segmenting the data and analyzing results by demographic groups.

• What is your age?

Yes/No Questions

These questions only have two options: Yes or No. They are useful for getting simple, straightforward answers to a specific question.

Have you ever traveled outside of your home country?

Ranking Questions

These questions ask participants to rank several items in order of preference or importance. They are useful for measuring priorities or preferences.

Please rank the following factors in order of importance when choosing a restaurant:

• a. Quality of Food
• c. Ambiance
• d. Location

Matrix Questions

These questions present a matrix or grid of options that participants can choose from. They are useful for getting data on multiple variables at once.

Dichotomous Questions

These questions present two options that are opposite or contradictory. They are useful for measuring binary or polarized attitudes.

Do you support the death penalty?

How to Make a Questionnaire

Step-by-Step Guide for Making a Questionnaire:

• Define your research objectives: Before you start creating questions, you need to define the purpose of your questionnaire and what you hope to achieve from the data you collect.
• Choose the appropriate question types: Based on your research objectives, choose the appropriate question types to collect the data you need. Refer to the types of questions mentioned earlier for guidance.
• Develop questions: Develop clear and concise questions that are easy for participants to understand. Avoid leading or biased questions that might influence the responses.
• Organize questions: Organize questions in a logical and coherent order, starting with demographic questions followed by general questions, and ending with specific or sensitive questions.
• Pilot the questionnaire : Test your questionnaire on a small group of participants to identify any flaws or issues with the questions or the format.
• Refine the questionnaire : Based on feedback from the pilot, refine and revise the questionnaire as necessary to ensure that it is valid and reliable.
• Distribute the questionnaire: Distribute the questionnaire to your target audience using a method that is appropriate for your research objectives, such as online surveys, email, or paper surveys.
• Collect and analyze data: Collect the completed questionnaires and analyze the data using appropriate statistical methods. Draw conclusions from the data and use them to inform decision-making or further research.
• Report findings: Present your findings in a clear and concise report, including a summary of the research objectives, methodology, key findings, and recommendations.

Questionnaire Administration Modes

There are several modes of questionnaire administration. The choice of mode depends on the research objectives, sample size, and available resources. Some common modes of administration include:

• Self-administered paper questionnaires: Participants complete the questionnaire on paper, either in person or by mail. This mode is relatively low cost and easy to administer, but it may result in lower response rates and greater potential for errors in data entry.
• Online questionnaires: Participants complete the questionnaire on a website or through email. This mode is convenient for both researchers and participants, as it allows for fast and easy data collection. However, it may be subject to issues such as low response rates, lack of internet access, and potential for fraudulent responses.
• Telephone surveys: Trained interviewers administer the questionnaire over the phone. This mode allows for a large sample size and can result in higher response rates, but it is also more expensive and time-consuming than other modes.
• Face-to-face interviews : Trained interviewers administer the questionnaire in person. This mode allows for a high degree of control over the survey environment and can result in higher response rates, but it is also more expensive and time-consuming than other modes.
• Mixed-mode surveys: Researchers use a combination of two or more modes to administer the questionnaire, such as using online questionnaires for initial screening and following up with telephone interviews for more detailed information. This mode can help overcome some of the limitations of individual modes, but it requires careful planning and coordination.

Example of Questionnaire

Title of the Survey: Customer Satisfaction Survey

Introduction:

We appreciate your business and would like to ensure that we are meeting your needs. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey so that we can better understand your experience with our products and services. Your feedback is important to us and will help us improve our offerings.

Instructions:

Please read each question carefully and select the response that best reflects your experience. If you have any additional comments or suggestions, please feel free to include them in the space provided at the end of the survey.

1. How satisfied are you with our product quality?

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

2. How satisfied are you with our customer service?

3. How satisfied are you with the price of our products?

4. How likely are you to recommend our products to others?

• Very likely
• Somewhat likely
• Somewhat unlikely
• Very unlikely

5. How easy was it to find the information you were looking for on our website?

• Somewhat easy
• Somewhat difficult
• Very difficult

6. How satisfied are you with the overall experience of using our products and services?

7. Is there anything that you would like to see us improve upon or change in the future?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Conclusion:

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback is valuable to us and will help us improve our products and services. If you have any further comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Applications of Questionnaire

Some common applications of questionnaires include:

• Research : Questionnaires are commonly used in research to gather information from participants about their attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and experiences. This information can then be analyzed and used to draw conclusions and make inferences.
• Healthcare : In healthcare, questionnaires can be used to gather information about patients’ medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle habits. This information can help healthcare professionals diagnose and treat medical conditions more effectively.
• Marketing : Questionnaires are commonly used in marketing to gather information about consumers’ preferences, buying habits, and opinions on products and services. This information can help businesses develop and market products more effectively.
• Human Resources: Questionnaires are used in human resources to gather information from job applicants, employees, and managers about job satisfaction, performance, and workplace culture. This information can help organizations improve their hiring practices, employee retention, and organizational culture.
• Education : Questionnaires are used in education to gather information from students, teachers, and parents about their perceptions of the educational experience. This information can help educators identify areas for improvement and develop more effective teaching strategies.

Purpose of Questionnaire

Some common purposes of questionnaires include:

• To collect information on attitudes, opinions, and beliefs: Questionnaires can be used to gather information on people’s attitudes, opinions, and beliefs on a particular topic. For example, a questionnaire can be used to gather information on people’s opinions about a particular political issue.
• To collect demographic information: Questionnaires can be used to collect demographic information such as age, gender, income, education level, and occupation. This information can be used to analyze trends and patterns in the data.
• To measure behaviors or experiences: Questionnaires can be used to gather information on behaviors or experiences such as health-related behaviors or experiences, job satisfaction, or customer satisfaction.
• To evaluate programs or interventions: Questionnaires can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs or interventions by gathering information on participants’ experiences, opinions, and behaviors.
• To gather information for research: Questionnaires can be used to gather data for research purposes on a variety of topics.

When to use Questionnaire

Here are some situations when questionnaires might be used:

• When you want to collect data from a large number of people: Questionnaires are useful when you want to collect data from a large number of people. They can be distributed to a wide audience and can be completed at the respondent’s convenience.
• When you want to collect data on specific topics: Questionnaires are useful when you want to collect data on specific topics or research questions. They can be designed to ask specific questions and can be used to gather quantitative data that can be analyzed statistically.
• When you want to compare responses across groups: Questionnaires are useful when you want to compare responses across different groups of people. For example, you might want to compare responses from men and women, or from people of different ages or educational backgrounds.
• When you want to collect data anonymously: Questionnaires can be useful when you want to collect data anonymously. Respondents can complete the questionnaire without fear of judgment or repercussions, which can lead to more honest and accurate responses.
• When you want to save time and resources: Questionnaires can be more efficient and cost-effective than other methods of data collection such as interviews or focus groups. They can be completed quickly and easily, and can be analyzed using software to save time and resources.

Characteristics of Questionnaire

Here are some of the characteristics of questionnaires:

• Standardization : Questionnaires are standardized tools that ask the same questions in the same order to all respondents. This ensures that all respondents are answering the same questions and that the responses can be compared and analyzed.
• Objectivity : Questionnaires are designed to be objective, meaning that they do not contain leading questions or bias that could influence the respondent’s answers.
• Predefined responses: Questionnaires typically provide predefined response options for the respondents to choose from, which helps to standardize the responses and make them easier to analyze.
• Quantitative data: Questionnaires are designed to collect quantitative data, meaning that they provide numerical or categorical data that can be analyzed using statistical methods.
• Convenience : Questionnaires are convenient for both the researcher and the respondents. They can be distributed and completed at the respondent’s convenience and can be easily administered to a large number of people.
• Anonymity : Questionnaires can be anonymous, which can encourage respondents to answer more honestly and provide more accurate data.
• Reliability : Questionnaires are designed to be reliable, meaning that they produce consistent results when administered multiple times to the same group of people.
• Validity : Questionnaires are designed to be valid, meaning that they measure what they are intended to measure and are not influenced by other factors.

Advantage of Questionnaire

Some Advantage of Questionnaire are as follows:

• Standardization: Questionnaires allow researchers to ask the same questions to all participants in a standardized manner. This helps ensure consistency in the data collected and eliminates potential bias that might arise if questions were asked differently to different participants.
• Efficiency: Questionnaires can be administered to a large number of people at once, making them an efficient way to collect data from a large sample.
• Anonymity: Participants can remain anonymous when completing a questionnaire, which may make them more likely to answer honestly and openly.
• Cost-effective: Questionnaires can be relatively inexpensive to administer compared to other research methods, such as interviews or focus groups.
• Objectivity: Because questionnaires are typically designed to collect quantitative data, they can be analyzed objectively without the influence of the researcher’s subjective interpretation.
• Flexibility: Questionnaires can be adapted to a wide range of research questions and can be used in various settings, including online surveys, mail surveys, or in-person interviews.

Limitations of Questionnaire

Limitations of Questionnaire are as follows:

• Limited depth: Questionnaires are typically designed to collect quantitative data, which may not provide a complete understanding of the topic being studied. Questionnaires may miss important details and nuances that could be captured through other research methods, such as interviews or observations.
• R esponse bias: Participants may not always answer questions truthfully or accurately, either because they do not remember or because they want to present themselves in a particular way. This can lead to response bias, which can affect the validity and reliability of the data collected.
• Limited flexibility: While questionnaires can be adapted to a wide range of research questions, they may not be suitable for all types of research. For example, they may not be appropriate for studying complex phenomena or for exploring participants’ experiences and perceptions in-depth.
• Limited context: Questionnaires typically do not provide a rich contextual understanding of the topic being studied. They may not capture the broader social, cultural, or historical factors that may influence participants’ responses.
• Limited control : Researchers may not have control over how participants complete the questionnaire, which can lead to variations in response quality or consistency.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Research Question Examples 🧑🏻‍🏫

25+ Practical Examples & Ideas To Help You Get Started 

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | October 2023

A well-crafted research question (or set of questions) sets the stage for a robust study and meaningful insights.  But, if you’re new to research, it’s not always clear what exactly constitutes a good research question. In this post, we’ll provide you with clear examples of quality research questions across various disciplines, so that you can approach your research project with confidence!

Research Question Examples

• Psychology research questions
• Business research questions
• Education research questions
• Healthcare research questions
• Computer science research questions

Examples: Psychology

Let’s start by looking at some examples of research questions that you might encounter within the discipline of psychology.

How does sleep quality affect academic performance in university students?

This question is specific to a population (university students) and looks at a direct relationship between sleep and academic performance, both of which are quantifiable and measurable variables.

What factors contribute to the onset of anxiety disorders in adolescents?

The question narrows down the age group and focuses on identifying multiple contributing factors. There are various ways in which it could be approached from a methodological standpoint, including both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Do mindfulness techniques improve emotional well-being?

This is a focused research question aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention.

How does early childhood trauma impact adult relationships?

This research question targets a clear cause-and-effect relationship over a long timescale, making it focused but comprehensive.

Is there a correlation between screen time and depression in teenagers?

This research question focuses on an in-demand current issue and a specific demographic, allowing for a focused investigation. The key variables are clearly stated within the question and can be measured and analysed (i.e., high feasibility).

Examples: Business/Management

Next, let’s look at some examples of well-articulated research questions within the business and management realm.

How do leadership styles impact employee retention?

This is an example of a strong research question because it directly looks at the effect of one variable (leadership styles) on another (employee retention), allowing from a strongly aligned methodological approach.

What role does corporate social responsibility play in consumer choice?

Current and precise, this research question can reveal how social concerns are influencing buying behaviour by way of a qualitative exploration.

Does remote work increase or decrease productivity in tech companies?

Focused on a particular industry and a hot topic, this research question could yield timely, actionable insights that would have high practical value in the real world.

How do economic downturns affect small businesses in the homebuilding industry?

Vital for policy-making, this highly specific research question aims to uncover the challenges faced by small businesses within a certain industry.

Which employee benefits have the greatest impact on job satisfaction?

By being straightforward and specific, answering this research question could provide tangible insights to employers.

Examples: Education

Next, let’s look at some potential research questions within the education, training and development domain.

How does class size affect students’ academic performance in primary schools?

This example research question targets two clearly defined variables, which can be measured and analysed relatively easily.

Do online courses result in better retention of material than traditional courses?

Timely, specific and focused, answering this research question can help inform educational policy and personal choices about learning formats.

What impact do US public school lunches have on student health?

Targeting a specific, well-defined context, the research could lead to direct changes in public health policies.

To what degree does parental involvement improve academic outcomes in secondary education in the Midwest?

This research question focuses on a specific context (secondary education in the Midwest) and has clearly defined constructs.

What are the negative effects of standardised tests on student learning within Oklahoma primary schools?

This research question has a clear focus (negative outcomes) and is narrowed into a very specific context.

Need a helping hand?

Examples: Healthcare

Shifting to a different field, let’s look at some examples of research questions within the healthcare space.

What are the most effective treatments for chronic back pain amongst UK senior males?

Specific and solution-oriented, this research question focuses on clear variables and a well-defined context (senior males within the UK).

How do different healthcare policies affect patient satisfaction in public hospitals in South Africa?

This question is has clearly defined variables and is narrowly focused in terms of context.

Which factors contribute to obesity rates in urban areas within California?

This question is focused yet broad, aiming to reveal several contributing factors for targeted interventions.

Does telemedicine provide the same perceived quality of care as in-person visits for diabetes patients?

Ideal for a qualitative study, this research question explores a single construct (perceived quality of care) within a well-defined sample (diabetes patients).

Which lifestyle factors have the greatest affect on the risk of heart disease?

This research question aims to uncover modifiable factors, offering preventive health recommendations.

Examples: Computer Science

Last but certainly not least, let’s look at a few examples of research questions within the computer science world.

What are the perceived risks of cloud-based storage systems?

Highly relevant in our digital age, this research question would align well with a qualitative interview approach to better understand what users feel the key risks of cloud storage are.

Which factors affect the energy efficiency of data centres in Ohio?

With a clear focus, this research question lays a firm foundation for a quantitative study.

How do TikTok algorithms impact user behaviour amongst new graduates?

While this research question is more open-ended, it could form the basis for a qualitative investigation.

What are the perceived risk and benefits of open-source software software within the web design industry?

Practical and straightforward, the results could guide both developers and end-users in their choices.

Remember, these are just examples…

In this post, we’ve tried to provide a wide range of research question examples to help you get a feel for what research questions look like in practice. That said, it’s important to remember that these are just examples and don’t necessarily equate to good research topics . If you’re still trying to find a topic, check out our topic megalist for inspiration.

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

Research ideas on Political Science

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Hands-on guide to questionnaire research

Selecting, designing, and developing your questionnaire, petra m boynton.

1 Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College London, Archway Campus, London N19 5LW

Trisha Greenhalgh

Associated data, short abstract.

Anybody can write down a list of questions and photocopy it, but producing worthwhile and generalisable data from questionnaires needs careful planning and imaginative design

The great popularity with questionnaires is they provide a “quick fix” for research methodology. No single method has been so abused. 1

Questionnaires offer an objective means of collecting information about people's knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour. 2 , 3 Do our patients like our opening hours? What do teenagers think of a local antidrugs campaign and has it changed their attitudes? Why don't doctors use computers to their maximum potential? Questionnaires can be used as the sole research instrument (such as in a cross sectional survey) or within clinical trials or epidemiological studies.

Randomised trials are subject to strict reporting criteria, 4 but there is no comparable framework for questionnaire research. Hence, despite a wealth of detailed guidance in the specialist literature, 1 - 3 , 5 w1-w8 elementary methodological errors are common. 1 Inappropriate instruments and lack of rigour inevitably lead to poor quality data, misleading conclusions, and woolly recommendations. w8 In this series we aim to present a practical guide that will enable research teams to do questionnaire research that is well designed, well managed, and non-discriminatory and which contributes to a generalisable evidence base. We start with selecting and designing the questionnaire. ​ questionnaire.

What information are you trying to collect?

You and your co-researchers may have different assumptions about precisely what information you would like your study to generate. A formal scoping exercise will ensure that you clarify goals and if necessary reach an agreed compromise. It will also flag up potential practical problems—for example, how long the questionnaire will be and how it might be administered.

As a rule of thumb, if you are not familiar enough with the research area or with a particular population subgroup to predict the range of possible responses, and especially if such details are not available in the literature, you should first use a qualitative approach (such as focus groups) to explore the territory and map key areas for further study. 6

Is a questionnaire appropriate?

People often decide to use a questionnaire for research questions that need a different method. Sometimes, a questionnaire will be appropriate only if used within a mixed methodology study—for example, to extend and quantify the findings of an initial exploratory phase. Table A on bmj.com gives some real examples where questionnaires were used inappropriately. 1

Box 1: Pitfalls of designing your own questionnaire

Natasha, a practice nurse, learns that staff at a local police station have a high incidence of health problems, which she believes are related to stress at work. She wants to test the relation between stress and health in these staff to inform the design of advice services. Natasha designs her own questionnaire. Had she completed a thorough literature search for validated measures, she would have found several high quality questionnaires that measure stress in public sector workers. 8 Natasha's hard work produces only a second rate study that she is unable to get published.

Research participants must be able to give meaningful answers (with help from a professional interviewer if necessary). Particular physical, mental, social, and linguistic needs are covered in the third article of this series. 7

Could you use an existing instrument?

Using a previously validated and published questionnaire will save you time and resources; you will be able to compare your own findings with those from other studies, you need only give outline details of the instrument when you write up your work, and you may find it easier to get published (box 1).

Increasingly, health services research uses standard questionnaires designed for producing data that can be compared across studies. For example, clinical trials routinely include measures of patients' knowledge about a disease, 9 satisfaction with services, 10 or health related quality of life. 11 - 13 w3 w9 The validity (see below) of this approach depends on whether the type and range of closed responses reflects the full range of perceptions and feelings that people in all the different potential sampling frames might hold. Importantly, health status and quality of life instruments lose their validity when used beyond the context in which they were developed. 12 , 14 , 15 w3 w10-12

If there is no “off the peg” questionnaire available, you will have to construct your own. Using one or more standard instruments alongside a short bespoke questionnaire could save you the need to develop and validate a long list of new items.

Is the questionnaire valid and reliable?

A valid questionnaire measures what it claims to measure. In reality, many fail to do this. For example, a self completion questionnaire that seeks to measure people's food intake may be invalid because it measures what they say they have eaten, not what they have actually eaten. 16 Similarly, responses on questionnaires that ask general practitioners how they manage particular clinical conditions differ significantly from actual clinical practice. w13 An instrument developed in a different time, country, or cultural context may not be a valid measure in the group you are studying. For example, the item “I often attend gay parties” may have been a valid measure of a person's sociability level in the 1950s, but the wording has a very different connotation today.

Reliable questionnaires yield consistent results from repeated samples and different researchers over time. Differences in results come from differences between participants, not from inconsistencies in how the items are understood or how different observers interpret the responses. A standardised questionnaire is one that is written and administered so all participants are asked the precisely the same questions in an identical format and responses recorded in a uniform manner. Standardising a measure increases its reliability.

Just because a questionnaire has been piloted on a few of your colleagues, used in previous studies, or published in a peer reviewed journal does not mean it is either valid or reliable. The detailed techniques for achieving validity, reliability, and standardisation are beyond the scope of this series. If you plan to develop or modify a questionnaire yourself, you must consult a specialist text on these issues. 2 , 3

How should you present your questions?

Questionnaire items may be open or closed ended and be presented in various formats ( figure ). Table B on bmj.com examines the pros and cons of the two approaches. Two words that are often used inappropriately in closed question stems are frequently and regularly. A poorly designed item might read, “I frequently engage in exercise,” and offer a Likert scale giving responses from “strongly agree” through to “strongly disagree.” But “frequently” implies frequency, so a frequency based rating scale (with options such as at least once a day, twice a week, and so on) would be more appropriate. “Regularly,” on the other hand, implies a pattern. One person can regularly engage in exercise once a month whereas another person can regularly do so four times a week. Other weasel words to avoid in question stems include commonly, usually, many, some, and hardly ever. 17 w14

Examples of formats for presenting questionnaire items

Box 2: A closed ended design that produced misleading information

Customer: I'd like to discontinue my mobile phone rental please.

Company employee: That's fine, sir, but I need to complete a form for our records on why you've made that decision. Is it (a) you have moved to another network; (b) you've upgraded within our network; or (c) you can't afford the payments?

Customer: It isn't any of those. I've just decided I don't want to own a mobile phone any more. It's more hassle than it's worth.

Company employee: [after a pause] In that case, sir, I'll have to put you down as “can't afford the payments.”

Closed ended designs enable researchers to produce aggregated data quickly, but the range of possible answers is set by the researchers not respondents, and the richness of potential responses is lower. Closed ended items often cause frustration, usually because researchers have not considered all potential responses (box 2). 18

Ticking a particular box, or even saying yes, no, or maybe can make respondents want to explain their answer, and such free text annotations may add richly to the quantitative data. You should consider inserting a free text box at the end of the questionnaire (or even after particular items or sections). Note that participants need instructions (perhaps with examples) on how to complete free text items in the same way as they do for closed questions.

If you plan to use open ended questions or invite free text comments, you must plan in advance how you will analyse these data (drawing on the skills of a qualitative researcher if necessary). 19 You must also build into the study design adequate time, skills, and resources for this analysis; otherwise you will waste participants' and researchers' time. If you do not have the time or expertise to analyse free text responses, do not invite any.

Some respondents (known as yea sayers) tend to agree with statements rather than disagree. For this reason, do not present your items so that strongly agree always links to the same broad attitude. For example, on a patient satisfaction scale, if one question is “my GP generally tries to help me out,” another question should be phrased in the negative, such as “the receptionists are usually impolite.”

Apart from questions, what else should you include?

A common error by people designing questionnaires for the first time is simply to hand out a list of the questions they want answered. Table C on bmj.com gives a checklist of other things to consider. It is particularly important to provide an introductory letter or information sheet for participants to take away after completing the questionnaire.

What should the questionnaire look like?

Researchers rarely spend sufficient time on the physical layout of their questionnaire, believing that the science lies in the content of the questions and not in such details as the font size or colour. Yet empirical studies have repeatedly shown that low response rates are often due to participants being unable to read or follow the questionnaire (box 3). 3 w6 In general, questions should be short and to the point (around 12 words or less), but for issues of a sensitive and personal nature, short questions can be perceived as abrupt and threatening, and longer sentences are preferred. w6

How should you select your sample?

Different sampling techniques will affect the questions you ask and how you administer your questionnaire (see table D on bmj.com ). For more detailed advice on sampling, see Bowling 20 and Sapsford. 3

If you are collecting quantitative data with a view to testing a hypothesis or assessing the prevalence of a disease or problem (for example, about intergroup differences in particular attitudes or health status), seek statistical advice on the minimum sample size. 3

What approvals do you need before you start?

Unlike other methods, questionnaires require relatively little specialist equipment or materials, which means that inexperienced and unsupported researchers sometimes embark on questionnaire surveys without completing the necessary formalities. In the United Kingdom, a research study on NHS patients or staff must be:

• Formally approved by the relevant person in an organisation that is registered with the Department of Health as a research sponsor (typically, a research trust, university or college) 21 ;
• Consistent with data protection law and logged on the organisation's data protection files (see next article in series) 19
• Accordant with research governance frameworks 21
• Approved by the appropriate research ethics committee (see below).

Box 3: Don't let layout let you down

Meena, a general practice tutor, wanted to study her fellow general practitioners' attitudes to a new training scheme in her primary care trust. She constructed a series of questions, but when they were written down, they covered 10 pages, which Meena thought looked off putting. She reduced the font and spacing of her questionnaire, and printed it double sided, until it was only four sides in length. But many of her colleagues refused to complete it, telling her they found it too hard to read and work through. She returned the questionnaire to its original 10 page format, which made it easier and quicker to complete, and her response rate increased greatly.

Summary points

Questionnaire studies often fail to produce high quality generalisable data

When possible, use previously validated questionnaires

Questions must be phrased appropriately for the target audience and information required

Good explanations and design will improve response rates

In addition, if your questionnaire study is part of a formal academic course (for example, a dissertation), you must follow any additional regulations such as gaining written approval from your supervisor.

A study is unethical if it is scientifically unsound, causes undue offence or trauma, breaches confidentiality, or wastes people's time or money. Written approval from a local or multicentre NHS research ethics committee (more information at www.corec.org.uk ) is essential but does not in itself make a study ethical. Those working in non-NHS institutions or undertaking research outside the NHS may need to submit an additional (non-NHS) ethical committee application to their own institution or research sponsor.

The committee will require details of the study design, copies of your questionnaire, and any accompanying information or covering letters. If the questionnaire is likely to cause distress, you should include a clear plan for providing support to both participants and researchers. Remember that just because you do not find a question offensive or distressing does not mean it will not upset others. 6

As we have shown above, designing a questionnaire study that produces usable data is not as easy as it might seem. Awareness of the pitfalls is essential both when planning research and appraising published studies. Table E on bmj.com gives a critical appraisal checklist for evaluating questionnaire studies. In the following two articles we will discuss how to select a sample, pilot and administer a questionnaire, and analyse data and approaches for groups that are hard to research.

Supplementary Material

This is the first in a series of three articles on questionnaire research

Susan Catt supplied additional references and feedback. We also thank Alicia O'Cathain, Jill Russell, Geoff Wong, Marcia Rigby, Sara Shaw, Fraser MacFarlane, and Will Callaghan for feedback on earlier versions. Numerous research students and conference delegates provided methodological questions and case examples of real life questionnaire research, which provided the inspiration and raw material for this series. We also thank the hundreds of research participants who over the years have contributed data and given feedback to our students and ourselves about the design, layout, and accessibility of instruments.

Contributors and sources: PMB and TG have taught research methods in a primary care setting for the past 13 years, specialising in practical approaches and using the experiences and concerns of researchers and participants as the basis of learning. This series of papers arose directly from questions asked about real questionnaire studies. To address these questions we explored a wide range of sources from the psychological and health services research literature.

Competing interests: None declared.

Research Questionnaire

Questionnaire generator.

When a researcher creates a research paper using the scientific method they will need to use a gathering method that is adjacent to the research topic. This means that the researcher will use a quantitative research method for a quantitive topic and a qualitative method for a qualitative  one.  The research questionnaire is one of the quantitative data-gathering methods a researcher can use in their research paper.

1. Market Research Questionnaire Template Example

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2. Market Research Questionnaire Example

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3. Research Questionnaire Example

4. Sample Market Research Questionnaire

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5. Research Survey Questionnaire

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6. Research Survey Questionnaire Construction

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7. Research Questionnaire Survey of Consumers

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8. Guide to the Design of Research Questionnaires

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9. Planning Survey Research Questionnaires

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10. Climate Change Survey Questionnaires

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11. Survey Questionnaire Design

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12. Developing Questionnaires for Educational Research

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13. Graudate Research Student Questionnaires

14. Sample Research Survey Questionnaires

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15. Market Research Questionnaire Example

16. Research Survey Questionnaire Example

17. Product X Research Study Questionnaire Example

What Is a Research Questionnaire?

A research questionnaire is a physical or digital questionnaire that researchers use to obtain quantitative data. The research questionnaire is a more in-depth version of a survey   as its questions often delve deeper than survey questions .

How to Write a Research Questionnaire

A well-made research questionnaire can effectively and efficiently gather data from the population. Creating a good research questionnaire does not require that many writing skills , soft skills , or hard skills , it just requires the person to properly understand the data set they are looking for.

Step 1: Select a Topic or Theme for the Research Questionnaire

Begin by choosing a topic or theme   for the research questionnaire as this will provide much-needed context for the research questionnaire. Not only that but the topic will also dictate the tone of the questions in the questionnaire.

Step 2: Obtain or Use a Research Questionnaire Outline

You may opt to use a research questionnaire outline or outline format for your research questionnaire. This outline will provide you with a structure you can use to easily make your research questionnaire.

Step 3: Create your Research Questionnaire

Start by creating questions that will help provide you with the necessary data to prove or disprove your research question. You may conduct brainstorming sessions to formulate the questions for your research questionnaire.

Step 4: Edit and Have Someone Proofread the Questionnaire

After you have created and completed the research questionnaire, you must edit the contents of the questionnaire. Not only that but it is wise to have someone proofread the contents of your questionnaire before deploying the questionnaire. 

How does a research questionnaire help businesses?

A successful business or company utilizes research questionnaires to not only obtain data from their customers but also to gather data about the performance and quality of the employees in the business. The research questionnaire provides the business or company with actionable data, which they can use to improve the product, service, or commodity to obtain more customers.

Do I need to provide a consent form when I ask someone to answer the research questionnaire?

Yes, consent is very important as without this the data you have gathered from your questionnaires or surveys are useless. Therefore it is important to provide a consent form with your research questionnaire when you are asking a participant to answer the document.

What type of answers are allowed in the research questionnaire?

Research questionnaires can host a multitude of types of questions each with its specific way of answering.  A questionnaire can use multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, and closed questions. Just be sure to properly pace the questions as having too many different types of answering styles can demotivate or distract the target audience, which might lead to errors.

A research questionnaire is a data-gathering document people can use to obtain information and data from a specific group of people. Well-made and crafted research questionnaires will provide much-needed information one can use to answer a specific research question.

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Designing a Questionnaire for a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide to Design and Develop an Effective Questionnaire

A questionnaire is an important instrument in a research study to help the researcher collect relevant data regarding the research topic. It is significant to ensure that the design of the questionnaire is arranged to minimize errors. However, researchers commonly face challenges in designing an effective questionnaire including its content, appearance and usage that leads to inappropriate and biased findings in a study. This paper aims to review the main steps to design a questionnaire introducing the process that starts with defining the information required for a study, then continues with the identification of the type of survey and types of questions, writing questions and building the construct of the questionnaire. It also develops the demand to pre-test the questionnaire and finalizing the questionnaire to conduct the survey.

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Questionnaire construction has overtime evolved with consistency and rarely, it has been skipped in the world’s researches. Questionnaires form the basis for which most pieces of information can be obtained. In the very light, response rates to questions and accuracy of data findings are possible through the use of questionnaire usage. Where a questionnaire is poorly constructed, one faces the risk of missing out vital information which could be forming the basis for research. This paper discusses the relevance and importance of questionnaire construction in data collection and research. An attempt is made to show questionnaire usage in social research and other research processes. Ultimately, questionnaire construction is considered just as important as any other research process used while collecting data. Some key recommendations that could make questionnaire usage in research better are also briefly considered.

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Some consider responding to survey questions as a sophisticated cognitive process whereby respondents go through, often iterative, steps to process the information provided to them by questions and response options. Others focus more on the interplay between questions and answers as a complex communication process between researchers and respondents, their assumptions, expectations and perceptions. In this article, cognitive and communication research is reviewed that has tested the impact of different question and answer alternatives on the responses obtained. This leads to evidence-based recommendations for market researchers, who frequently have to make decisions regarding various aspects of questionnaire design such as question length and order, question wording, as well as the optimal number of response options and the desirability or otherwise of a ‘don't know’ option or a middle alternative.

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• 4 Types of Questionnaire + Free Question Examples

For many years, questionnaires have been a popular data collection tool during research. Questionnaires are very diverse and easily adaptable—this is why they are one of the most common and important tools for data collection in everyday life. 

Although questionnaires are a common tool for research, a lot of people still don’t know what kind of questions should be included in their questionnaires. In this article, we will look at different types of questionnaires and show you how to create an online questionnaire with Formplus. 

What is a Questionnaire? 

A questionnaire is a research tool that contains a list of questions requiring responses from a predefined group of people. It is used to collect relevant information that can help you arrive at definite results during research. 

Questionnaires are used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data from respondents. It combines different question types like close-ended and open-ended questions that allow you to extract large volumes of data from respondents, even when the researcher isn’t available to coordinate data collection firsthand. 

The purpose of a questionnaire is to build up your research dataset by asking standardized questions to help you get the right answers. While questionnaires are closely related to surveys, they do not mean the same thing. 

4 Types of Questionnaires

1. online questionnaire.

An online questionnaire is a set of standardized questions that are put together and distributed via online channels. It gathers data from respondents through a set of questions that are administered via online data-collection platforms like Formplus. 

Formplus is an easy-to-use tool that supports seamless online and offline data collection . It has a form builder that allows you to create different types of questionnaires for research. You can also find a variety of questionnaire templates that can be edited for unique research needs. 

There are more than 30 form fields on Formplus that you can add to your questionnaire for data collection including text fields, numerical fields, and rating fields. Respondents can easily provide answers to questions created in the form of simple checkboxes or dropdown menus. 

Formplus has multiple form-sharing options including email sharing, form embed, and direct social media sharing buttons. This means that respondents can receive online questionnaires via various mediums such as email, on your website, and on social media platforms. 

Advantages of Online Questionnaires  

• An online questionnaire helps you to save time during data collection.
• It is also a cost-effective method of data collection. You do not have to spend money on printing questionnaires or sharing the questionnaire with respondents physically.
• It allows respondents to complete the questionnaire when they want. This improves the questionnaire response rates.
• Since the questionnaire is created and administered online, it makes it easy for you to gather responses from a large pool of respondents.

Disadvantages of Online Questionnaires

• The choice of your questionnaire distribution channel can affect questionnaire response rates.
• The questionnaire sample size is limited to populations that have access to the internet. This can affect the variation of the data gathered.

Online Questionnaire Example

2. Telephone Questionnaire

This is a method of collecting data from respondents via a telephone conversation. Here, the researcher places a direct call to different members of the survey sample and asks a set of predefined questions that are relevant to the research context. 

This questionnaire method is best used when you have a small set of questions that can be responded to quickly. It also works for research contexts that require data from a small sample size or when members of the sample cannot complete a written or online questionnaire. 

Read: The 4,5, and 7 Point Likert Scale + [Questionnaire Examples]

Advantages of Telephone Questionnaires  

• It allows you to gather research data quickly.
• Telephone questionnaires tend to record higher response rates than other types of questionnaires.

Disadvantages of Telephone Questionnaires  

• It is an expensive method of collecting data in research.
• Telephone questionnaires are time-consuming.
• Due to its direct conversation approach, respondents may refuse to give out as much information as they should for the research.

3, Paper Questionnaire  

Paper questionnaires are the oldest and most common method of data collection in research. It is a sheet of paper with a set of predetermined questions that the members of the sample population respond to using a pencil or a pen. 

Over time, the use of paper questionnaires has reduced significantly due to its multiple shortcomings. Apart from a steady decline in response rates , paper questionnaires are expensive to create and they also have a high risk of data loss and damage. 

The best way to use a paper questionnaire is to pair it with online distribution channels that allow you to share your survey on paper. There are paper questionnaire creators that can be used to print your questionnaire or export it in Word and PDF formats . 

Advantages of Paper Questionnaire  

• It can be used to collect research data from members of your research population who do not have access to other questionnaire types.
• It is an effective method of data collection in market research.

Disadvantages of Paper Questionnaire  

• Paper questionnaires have a huge financial cost implication.
• It can only be used when you have a small sample size that has physical proximity. If your research requires large data sets from a large audience, paper questionnaires may not be suitable for use.

Face-to-Face Interview

You can also administer a questionnaire through a face-to-face interview with members of the research population. It allows the researcher to communicate directly with the respondent and ask the questions already listed in the questionnaire. Through this method, you can obtain qualitative and quantitative information from respondents. 

When you have a face-to-face interview with respondents, you gain better insight into the context of their answers to your question. A face-to-face interview is an opportunity to observe non-verbal responses and other nuances, that help you interpret the resulting data from the conversation. 

Advantages of a Face-to-Face Interview  

• It helps you to capture verbal and non-verbal cues creates better insight into the research data.
• Face-to-face interviews allow you to collect more accurate data.

Disadvantages of a Face-to-Face Interview  

• The quality of data from a face-to-face largely depends on the skills of the interviewer.
• It is an expensive method of data collection. For instance, you will need to hire personnel to assist with logistics and other levels of preparation.

Read Also: 7 Data Collection Methods & Tools For Research

Characteristics of a Questionnaire  

While the overall structure and presentation of your questionnaire depend on the type of research plus the information you want to get from respondents, there are common characteristics you can find in every questionnaire. 

• A questionnaire follows a well-defined question sequence

The questions listed in a questionnaire are structured to increase the response rate. Typically, the questionnaire begins with screening questions and then progresses to warm-up questions, transition questions, skip questions, challenging questions, before ending up with classification questions.

• A questionnaire can collect both qualitative and quantitative data

Depending on your research needs, you can include different types of questions that help you gather quantitative and qualitative responses from the members of your research sample.

In the Formplus builder, you will find different form fields that allow you to add multiple question formats to your questionnaire. You can use text fields for open-ended questions and multi-choice fields, rating fields, and checkboxes for close-ended questions. 

• A questionnaire has a uniform design that supports standardized data collection. This means that all members of the sample population see and respond to the same set of questions; although the question sequence and order may vary.
• A questionnaire also includes clear instructions that guide respondents as they complete the survey.

Types of Questions for Any Questionnaire  

Open-ended questions.

An open-ended question is a type of research question that does not restrict respondents to a set of predetermined answers. Rather, respondents are allowed to fully articulate their thoughts, opinions, and experiences as long-form and short-form answers including paragraphs, essays, or just a few sentences. 

They are also known as free-form survey questions because they do not restrict the respondents to a small pool of possible answer-options. Open-ended questions encourage the research participants to freely communicate what they know and how they feel about the subject matter. 

Use open-ended questions in your questionnaire when you want to collect qualitative responses for your research. They also provide better context for the research data by helping you to see things from a respondent’s point of view. 

Advantages of Open-Ended Questions

• It helps you to gather detailed information from respondents.
• Open-ended questions have an infinite possibility of responses which supports variation in your research data.

Disadvantages of Open-ended Questions

• Responding to open-ended questions is time-consuming and respondents can easily abandon the questionnaire along the way.
• It is very difficult to statistically interpret the data collected via open-ended questions. This makes open-ended questions highly unsuitable for quantitative data collection.

Open-ended Question Samples

• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
• What do you think about our new logo?
• How does our product help you to meet your goals?

2. Close Ended Questions

A close-ended question is one that limits possible responses to options like Yes/No, True/False, and the likes. It comes with pre-selected answer options and requires the respondent to choose one of the options that closely resonates with her thoughts, opinion, or knowledge. 

Close-ended questions are best used in quantitative research because they allow you to collect statistical information from respondents. If you want to gather a large amount of data that can be analyzed quickly, then asking close-ended questions is your best bet. 

Advantages of Close-ended Questions

• Close-ended questions are easy and quick to answer.
• It is cheaper to collate and analyze the responses to close-ended questions.

Disadvantages of Close-ended Questions

• It limits the amount of information that respondents can provide in your questionnaire.
• It can result in survey response bias as respondents can be influenced by the options listed in the questionnaire.

Close-ended Question Samples

1. How do you start your day?

• With coffee
• With exercises
• With meditation

2. What is your favorite genre of music?

3. Dichotomous Questions

A dichotomous question is a type of close-ended question that has only 2 opposite answer-options. It requires the research participants to choose one of the 2 available options as a response to the question. The most common type of dichotomous question is the yes/no question. 

A dichotomous question allows respondents to provide short, concise, and direct answers in the research questionnaire. Dichotomous questions are used to collect quantitative information from respondents, and to also eliminate unnecessary complexities in data collection. Other common formats of dichotomous questions are true/false questions and agree/disagree questions. 

Advantages of Dichotomous Questions

• Dichotomous questions are easy to understand and respond to.
• It helps you to gather fast and straightforward responses from the research participants.

Disadvantages of Dichotomous Questions

• It restricts respondents to a limited set of answer-options. This prevents respondents from exploring other possible answers or from providing a better context for interpreting their choices.
• Dichotomous questions are not suitable for qualitative data collection.

Dichotomous Question Samples

1. Would you like to have something to drink?

2. Did you enjoy this training? 

4. Likert Scale Question

This is a type of psychometric question that measures the respondent’s perception or opinion on a topic or subject matter. It uses points to rank different opinions, thoughts, and experiences in line with the topic at hand and the overall research context. 

A Likert scale question is popular as a 4-point scale, 5-point scale, or 7-point scale . Likert scale questions are important for research because they can be used to measure someone’s attitude and determine the extent to which they agree or disagree with a particular question or statement.

Advantages of Likert Scale Questions

• It is easy to organize and interpret responses from Likert scale questions.
• They provide more contexts to responses by allowing the researcher to quantify the intensity of individual responses.

Disadvantages of Likert Scale Questions

• It can be difficult to classify neutral responses like ‘neither agree nor disagree’.
• The intervals between points on the scale do not present equal changes in attitude for all individuals.

Likert Scale Question Examples

5. Multi-Choice Questions  

As the name suggests, a multi-choice question is one that gives respondents more than 2 answer-options to choose from. It is sometimes referred to as an objective response question and it requires the respondent to choose the most relevant option from the available choices. 

Typically, a multi-choice question has 3 parts—the stem, the answer, and the distractors. The stem is the actual question being asked; the answer is the right response to the question and the distractors are the other available choice options.

Advantages of Multi-choice Questions   

• It is easy to organize and process data collected through multi-choice questions.

Disadvantages of Multi-choice Questions

• Creating multi-choice questions can be time-consuming.
• Muti choice questions do not produce any qualitative data.

Multi-choice Question Examples

1. What is your favorite drink?

2. What is your favorite smartphone brand?

Questionnaire vs Survey

A questionnaire is a list of quantitative and qualitative questions used to gather information from a target audience while a survey is a research tool for data collection, analysis, and forecasting. In other words, a questionnaire is a set of questions used for data collection while a survey is a method of measuring and analyzing relevant opinions to arrive at relevant research results. 

Questionnaires and surveys are closely related and they are both used for data collection in research. Every survey includes one or more questionnaires that help you to gather data from respondents. On the other hand, a questionnaire may or may not be administered as part of a survey.  

If you’re looking to collect and interpret data to help you understand trends and behaviors, then a survey is a valid option for you. On the other hand, if you want a flexible instrument to collect responses from a target audience, go for a questionnaire. You can create both surveys and questionnaires on Formplus. 

Advantages of a Questionnaire

• A questionnaire is a cost-effective tool for data collection in research. You can easily create and administer them using online tools like Formplus.
• It makes it easy for you to collect large volumes of data from a vast target audience.
• A questionnaire can be used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from respondents. You can list close-ended and open-ended questions that help you gather different types of responses from the audience.
• It is a good way to collect anonymous responses from the target audience.
• Using a questionnaire is one of the best ways to collect repetitive information from respondents at defined intervals.
• It puts less pressure on the respondents for immediate response. Many questionnaires allow respondents to respond when they want. Formplus also has a ‘save and resume’ feature that allows respondents to complete your questionnaire at their own pace.

Conclusion  

The goal of a questionnaire is to collect relevant data from your target audience; this data can be used for multiple research purposes. To get the most out of your questionnaire, it is important to list different question types and adopt the most effective distribution channels. 

As we’ve discussed in this article, there are different types of questionnaires you can choose from including telephone questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. You can also create an online questionnaire with our form builder that supports seamless data collection. Sign up for a Formplus account here. 

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17+ Free Questionnaire Templates & Examples

A questionnaire template is a pre-constructed tool consisting of systematically arranged questions intended to elicit specific responses from individuals. Serving as the cornerstone for consistent and effective data collection, these templates enable researchers in various fields—including market research, education, and public health—to facilitate insightful analysis and draw meaningful conclusions.

The journey from creating a questionnaire template to receiving actionable data, however, is a complex one. It requires strategic question formulation, a keen understanding of your audience’s comprehension levels, stringent data privacy considerations, and effective strategies to motivate respondent participation. To assist you in this intricate process, we’ve assembled a selection of carefully designed templates and practical examples. These resources illuminate the path to crafting impactful questionnaires , helping you develop tools that resonate with your audience and facilitate the extraction of valuable and precise information.

Questionnaire Templates

Demographic Questionnaire Template

A Demographic Questionnaire Template is a standardized form designed to gather information about individuals' personal, social, and economic backgrounds. It's often used in research, marketing, public health, and various other fields to collect data that helps organizations understand the characteristics, needs, and preferences of different populations, enabling them to make informed decisions or tailor services and products to specific groups.

Employee Questionnaire Template

An Employee Questionnaire Template is a structured document used by employers to gather feedback, insights, and relevant information from their staff about various workplace topics. This can range from job satisfaction and professional development needs to workplace environment and health concerns. Typically employed by organizations to better understand and address the needs and concerns of their workforce, it aids in improving workplace culture, policies, and overall employee experience.

Interview Questionnaire Template

An Interview Questionnaire Template is a structured document that provides a consistent format for gathering, documenting, and evaluating information during job interviews. It typically contains fields for interviewer and interviewee details, a schedule, a set of predetermined questions, and areas for feedback and evaluation. Such templates are often used by organizations and hiring managers to ensure uniformity in the interview process, making it easier to compare candidates and make informed hiring decisions.

Wedding Questionnaire Template

A Wedding Questionnaire Template is a structured document that gathers essential details about an upcoming wedding. By providing fields for couples to fill in specific information related to their big day, it ensures that planners, vendors, and other involved parties have all the necessary data to organize and execute the event seamlessly. Typically utilized in the early stages of wedding planning, it aids in streamlining communication and minimizing oversights.

How to Make a Good Questionnaire

The following guidelines will prove beneficial as you create your own engaging questionnaire.

• Embrace Simplicity in Your Questions: Avoid the common pitfall of complexity in questionnaire design. Complex questions often lead participants to abandon the questionnaire midway. Strive for clarity and simplicity in your questions for a higher completion rate.
• Determine the Necessary Information: Clearly identify the specific information you need before crafting your questions. Remember, the main goal of a questionnaire is to gather useful data, so every question should contribute meaningfully towards this objective.
• Make Personal Information Submission Optional: Given the potential discomfort around sharing personal details, making the provision of such data optional can mitigate participant drop-off.
• Provide a Motivation to Respond: Without an incentive, many people might not dedicate time to your questionnaire. Motivate participants by offering rewards such as gift cards or discounts.
• Prioritize Brevity: An ideal questionnaire takes no more than 5 minutes to complete. Short, easy-to-complete questionnaires often yield better response rates.
• Implement Simple Answering Techniques: Enhance your questionnaire’s user-friendliness by employing straightforward methods for answers, such as fill-ins or check boxes. This can greatly simplify the process for respondents, further improving completion rates.

Questionnaire Examples & Templates

We’ve curated a selection of questionnaire examples in Word and PDF formats to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of effective questionnaire design. These examples, which embody best practices in questionnaire creation, serve as valuable references when developing your own tool. Feel free to utilize these templates as a springboard for formulating a questionnaire tailored to your unique requirements.

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Things to Avoid When Writing A Questionnaire

• Avoid Writing Leading Questions.  When developing your survey, you will need to avoid leading questions. Leading questions will demand a specific response from the person taking the questionnaire. For example, “Which day is best for a company-wide safety meeting?” This prompts the respondent to pick a date without taking into consideration if a safety meeting is even warranted.
• Double Negatives Are A No No.  Avoid questions that contain two negative words. This can confuse respondents who are taking your survey.
• Keep Lists of Choices Short.  When you have a long list of choices at the end of a question, it can make it hard for respondents to decipher them all.
• Stay Away from Difficult Concepts.  Try to avoid difficult concepts as they may be too complicated for some respondents to understand.
• Avoid Complicated Recall Questions.  Over time people’s memories begin to fade, making them less reliable. Keep any recall questions as simple as possible.

Tips for Writing A Questionnaire

• Use Direct Questions: There is no reason to beat around the bush. Ask respondents direct questions and you will get the information you are looking for.
• Ask One Question at A Time: You don’t want to overwhelm your respondents by asking them more than one question at a time.
• Make Sure Each Question Is Useful: Take a look at each question on your survey and make sure they are useful to you.
• Take the Questionnaire: After you develop your questionnaire, take it for a test drive before sending it out.

To prepare for a questionnaire, start out by defining your topics. Next, rank your topics from most important to least important. Finally, develop questions for each of your topics.

When writing a survey questionnaire, you will need to develop your topics of study. The questions you write for your topics need to be simple and to the point. Refrain from using over-complicated words. For the board, ideas make sure you break them down into several questions.

A questionnaire example is a very useful tool for collecting data from respondents for the purpose of survey analysis.

There are many advantages of a questionnaire. Fast results, useful data, and scalability are a few of those advantages. However, there are a few disadvantages that include interpretation issues, survey fatigue, and skipped questions.

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Quantitative Research Questionnaire – Types & Examples

Published by Alvin Nicolas at August 20th, 2024 , Revised On August 21, 2024

Research is usually done to provide solutions to an ongoing problem. Wherever the researchers see a gap, they tend to launch research to enhance their knowledge and to provide solutions to the needs of others. If they want to research from a subjective point of view, they consider qualitative research. On the other hand, when they research from an objective point of view, they tend to consider quantitative research.

There’s a fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. Qualitative research, related to subjectivity, assesses individuals’ personal opinions and experiences, while quantitative research, associated with objectivity, collects numerical data to derive results. However, the best medium to collect data in quantitative research is a questionnaire.

Let’s discuss what a quantitative research questionnaire is, its types, methods of writing questions, and types of survey questions. By thoroughly understanding these key essential terms, you can efficiently create a professional and well-organised quantitative research questionnaire.

What is a Quantitative Research Questionnaire?

Quantitative research questionnaires are preferably used during quantitative research. They are a well-structured set of questions designed specifically to gather specific, close-ended participant responses. This allows the researchers to gather numerical data and obtain a deep understanding of a particular event or problem.

As you know, qualitative research questionnaires contain open-ended questions that allow the participants to express themselves freely, while quantitative research questionnaires contain close-ended and specific questions, such as multiple-choice and Likert scales, to assess individuals’ behaviour.

Quantitative research questionnaires are usually used in research in various fields, such as psychology, medicine, chemistry, and economics.

Let’s see how you can write quantitative research questions by going through some examples:

• How much do British people consume fast food per week?
• What is the percentage of students living in hostels in London?

Types of Quantitative Research Questions With Examples

After learning what a quantitative research questionnaire is and what quantitative research questions look like, it’s time to thoroughly discuss the different types of quantitative research questions to explore this topic more.

Dichotomous Questions

Dichotomous questions are those with a margin for only two possible answers. They are usually used when the answers are “Yes/No” or “True/False.” These questions significantly simplify the research process and help collect simple responses.

Example: Have you ever visited Istanbul?

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple-choice questions have a list of possible answers for the participants to choose from. They help assess people’s general knowledge, and the data gathered by multiple-choice questions can be easily analysed.

Example: Which of the following is the capital of France?

Multiple Answer Questions

Multiple-answer questions are similar to multiple-choice questions. However, there are multiple answers for participants to choose from. They are used when the questions can’t have a single, specific answer.

Example: Which of the following movie genres are your favourite?

Likert Scale Questions

Likert scale questions are used when the preferences and emotions of the participants are measured from one extreme to another. The scales are usually applied to measure likelihood, frequency, satisfaction, and agreement. The Likert scale has only five options to choose from.

Example: How satisfied are you with your job?

Semantic Differential Questions

Similar to Likert scales, semantic differential questions are also used to measure the emotions and attitudes of participants. The only difference is that instead of using extreme options such as strongly agree and strongly disagree, opposites of a particular choice are given to reduce bias.

Example: Please rate the services of our company.

Rank Order Questions

Rank-order questions are usually used to measure the preferences and choices of the participants efficiently. In this, multiple choices are given, and participants are asked to rank them according to their perspective. This helps to create a good participant profile.

Example: Rank the given books according to your interest.

Matrix Questions

Matrix questions are similar to Likert scales. In Likert scales, participants’ responses are measured through separate questions, while in matrix questions, multiple questions are compiled in a single row to simplify the data collection method efficiently.

Example: Rate the following activities that you do in daily life.

How To Write Quantitative Research Questions?

Quantitative research questions allow researchers to gather empirical data to answer their research problems. As we have discussed the different types of quantitative research questions above, it’s time to learn how to write the perfect quantitative research questions for a questionnaire and streamline your research process.

Here are the steps to follow to write quantitative research questions efficiently.

Step 1: Determine the Research Goals

The first step in writing quantitative research questions is to determine your research goals. Determining and confirming your research goals significantly helps you understand what kind of questions you need to create and for what grade. Efficiently determining the research goals also reduces the need for further modifications in the questionnaire.

Step 2: Be Mindful About the Variables

There are two variables in the questions: independent and dependent. It is essential to decide what would be the dependent variable in your questions and what would be the independent. It significantly helps to understand where to emphasise and where not. It also reduces the probability of additional and vague questions.

Step 3: Choose the Right Type of Question

It is also important to determine the right type of questions to add to your questionnaire. Whether you want Likert scales, rank-order questions, or multiple-answer questions, choosing the right type of questions will help you measure individuals’ responses efficiently and accurately.

Step 4: Use Easy and Clear Language

Another thing to keep in mind while writing questions for a quantitative research questionnaire is to use easy and clear language. As you know, quantitative research is done to measure specific and simple responses in empirical form, and using easy and understandable language in questions makes a huge difference.

Step 5: Be Specific About The Topic

Always be mindful and specific about your topic. Avoid writing questions that divert from your topic because they can cause participants to lose interest. Use the basic terms of your selected topic and gradually go deep. Also, remember to align your topic and questions with your research objectives and goals.

Step 6: Appropriately Write Your Questions

When you have considered all the above-discussed things, it’s time to write your questions appropriately. Don’t just haste in writing. Think twice about the result of a question and then consider writing it in the questionnaire. Remember to be precise while writing. Avoid overwriting.

Step 7: Gather Feedback From Peers

When you have finished writing questions, gather feedback from your researcher peers. Write down all the suggestions and feedback given by your peers. Don’t panic over the criticism of your questions. Remember that it’s still time to make necessary changes to the questionnaire before launching your campaign.

Step 8: Refine and Finalise the Questions

After gathering peer feedback, make necessary and appropriate changes to your questions. Be mindful of your research goals and topic. Try to modify your questions according to them. Also, be mindful of the theme and colour scheme of the questionnaire that you decided on. After refining the questions, finalise your questionnaire.

Types of Survey Questionnaires in Quantitative Research

Quantitative research questionnaires have close-ended questions that allow the researchers to measure accurate and specific responses from the participants. They don’t contain open-ended questions like qualitative research, where the response is measured by interviews and focus groups. Good combinations of questions are used in the quantitative research survey .

However, here are the types of surveys in quantitative research:

Descriptive Survey

The descriptive survey is used to obtain information about a particular variable. It is used to associate a quantity and quantify research variables. The questions associated with descriptive surveys mostly start with “What is” and “How much”.

Example: A descriptive survey to measure how much money children spend to buy toys.

Comparative Survey

A comparative survey is used to establish a comparison between one or more dependable variables and two or more comparison groups. This survey aims to form a comparative relation between the variables under study. The structure of the question in a comparative survey is, “What is the difference in [dependable variable] between [two or more groups]?”.

Example: A comparative survey on the difference in political awareness between Eastern and Western citizens.

Relationship-Based Survey

Relationship-based survey is used to understand the relationship or association between two or more independent and dependent variables. Cause and effect between two or more variables is measured in the relationship-based survey. The structure of questions in a relationship-based survey is, “What is the relation [between or among] [independent variable] and [dependable variable]?”.

Example: What is the relationship between education and lifestyle in America?

Advantages & Disadvantages of Questionnaires in Quantitative Research

Quantitative research questionnaires are an excellent tool to collect data and information about the responses of individuals. Quantitative research comes with various advantages, but along with advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Check the table below to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of a quantitative research questionnaire.

Quantitative Research Questionnaire Example

Here is an example of a quantitative research questionnaire to help you get the idea and create an efficient and well-developed questionnaire for your research:

Warm welcome, and thank you for participating in our survey. Please provide your response to the questions below. Your esteemed response will significantly help us to achieve our research goals and provide effective solutions to society.

17-20 21-24 25-28 29-32 ii) What is your gender? Male Female Other Prefer not to say ii) Have you graduated? Yes No iii) Are you employed? iv) Are you married? Yes No   Part 2: Provide your honest response.  Question 1: I have tried online shopping. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral  Agree Strongly Agree Question 2: I have good experience with online shopping. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Question 3: I have a bad experience with online shopping. Question 4: I received my order on time.  Question 5: I like physical shopping more.  Frequently Asked Questions What is a quantitative research questionnaire. A quantitative research questionnaire is a well-structured set of questions designed specifically to gather specific and close-ended participant responses. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research? The difference between qualitative and quantitative research is subjectivity and objectivity. Subjectivity is associated with qualitative research, while objectivity is associated with quantitative research.  What are the advantages of a quantitative research questionnaire? It is quick and efficient. There is less risk of research bias and subjectivity. It is particular and simple. You May Also Like A meta-analysis is a formal, epidemiological, quantitative study design that uses statistical methods to generalise the findings of the selected independent studies. Disadvantages of primary research – It can be expensive, time-consuming and take a long time to complete if it involves face-to-face contact with customers. A survey includes questions relevant to the research topic. The participants are selected, and the questionnaire is distributed to collect the data. USEFUL LINKS LEARNING RESOURCES COMPANY DETAILS How It Works Have a language expert improve your writing Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free. Knowledge Base Methodology Survey Research | Definition, Examples & Methods Survey Research | Definition, Examples & Methods Published on August 20, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 22, 2023. Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analyzing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps: Determine who will participate in the survey Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person) Design the survey questions and layout Distribute the survey Analyze the responses Write up the results Surveys are a flexible method of data collection that can be used in many different types of research . Table of contents What are surveys used for, step 1: define the population and sample, step 2: decide on the type of survey, step 3: design the survey questions, step 4: distribute the survey and collect responses, step 5: analyze the survey results, step 6: write up the survey results, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about surveys. Surveys are used as a method of gathering data in many different fields. They are a good choice when you want to find out about the characteristics, preferences, opinions, or beliefs of a group of people. Common uses of survey research include: Social research : investigating the experiences and characteristics of different social groups Market research : finding out what customers think about products, services, and companies Health research : collecting data from patients about symptoms and treatments Politics : measuring public opinion about parties and policies Psychology : researching personality traits, preferences and behaviours Surveys can be used in both cross-sectional studies , where you collect data just once, and in longitudinal studies , where you survey the same sample several times over an extended period. Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check. Before you start conducting survey research, you should already have a clear research question that defines what you want to find out. Based on this question, you need to determine exactly who you will target to participate in the survey. Populations The target population is the specific group of people that you want to find out about. This group can be very broad or relatively narrow. For example: The population of Brazil US college students Second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands Customers of a specific company aged 18-24 British transgender women over the age of 50 Your survey should aim to produce results that can be generalized to the whole population. That means you need to carefully define exactly who you want to draw conclusions about. Several common research biases can arise if your survey is not generalizable, particularly sampling bias and selection bias . The presence of these biases have serious repercussions for the validity of your results. It’s rarely possible to survey the entire population of your research – it would be very difficult to get a response from every person in Brazil or every college student in the US. Instead, you will usually survey a sample from the population. The sample size depends on how big the population is. You can use an online sample calculator to work out how many responses you need. There are many sampling methods that allow you to generalize to broad populations. In general, though, the sample should aim to be representative of the population as a whole. The larger and more representative your sample, the more valid your conclusions. Again, beware of various types of sampling bias as you design your sample, particularly self-selection bias , nonresponse bias , undercoverage bias , and survivorship bias . There are two main types of survey: A questionnaire , where a list of questions is distributed by mail, online or in person, and respondents fill it out themselves. An interview , where the researcher asks a set of questions by phone or in person and records the responses. Which type you choose depends on the sample size and location, as well as the focus of the research. Questionnaires Sending out a paper survey by mail is a common method of gathering demographic information (for example, in a government census of the population). You can easily access a large sample. You have some control over who is included in the sample (e.g. residents of a specific region). The response rate is often low, and at risk for biases like self-selection bias . Online surveys are a popular choice for students doing dissertation research , due to the low cost and flexibility of this method. There are many online tools available for constructing surveys, such as SurveyMonkey and Google Forms . You can quickly access a large sample without constraints on time or location. The data is easy to process and analyze. The anonymity and accessibility of online surveys mean you have less control over who responds, which can lead to biases like self-selection bias . If your research focuses on a specific location, you can distribute a written questionnaire to be completed by respondents on the spot. For example, you could approach the customers of a shopping mall or ask all students to complete a questionnaire at the end of a class. You can screen respondents to make sure only people in the target population are included in the sample. You can collect time- and location-specific data (e.g. the opinions of a store’s weekday customers). The sample size will be smaller, so this method is less suitable for collecting data on broad populations and is at risk for sampling bias . Oral interviews are a useful method for smaller sample sizes. They allow you to gather more in-depth information on people’s opinions and preferences. You can conduct interviews by phone or in person. You have personal contact with respondents, so you know exactly who will be included in the sample in advance. You can clarify questions and ask for follow-up information when necessary. The lack of anonymity may cause respondents to answer less honestly, and there is more risk of researcher bias. Like questionnaires, interviews can be used to collect quantitative data: the researcher records each response as a category or rating and statistically analyzes the results. But they are more commonly used to collect qualitative data : the interviewees’ full responses are transcribed and analyzed individually to gain a richer understanding of their opinions and feelings. Next, you need to decide which questions you will ask and how you will ask them. It’s important to consider: The type of questions The content of the questions The phrasing of the questions The ordering and layout of the survey Open-ended vs closed-ended questions There are two main forms of survey questions: open-ended and closed-ended. Many surveys use a combination of both. Closed-ended questions give the respondent a predetermined set of answers to choose from. A closed-ended question can include: A binary answer (e.g. yes/no or agree/disagree ) A scale (e.g. a Likert scale with five points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree ) A list of options with a single answer possible (e.g. age categories) A list of options with multiple answers possible (e.g. leisure interests) Closed-ended questions are best for quantitative research . They provide you with numerical data that can be statistically analyzed to find patterns, trends, and correlations . Open-ended questions are best for qualitative research. This type of question has no predetermined answers to choose from. Instead, the respondent answers in their own words. Open questions are most common in interviews, but you can also use them in questionnaires. They are often useful as follow-up questions to ask for more detailed explanations of responses to the closed questions. The content of the survey questions To ensure the validity and reliability of your results, you need to carefully consider each question in the survey. All questions should be narrowly focused with enough context for the respondent to answer accurately. Avoid questions that are not directly relevant to the survey’s purpose. When constructing closed-ended questions, ensure that the options cover all possibilities. If you include a list of options that isn’t exhaustive, you can add an “other” field. Phrasing the survey questions In terms of language, the survey questions should be as clear and precise as possible. Tailor the questions to your target population, keeping in mind their level of knowledge of the topic. Avoid jargon or industry-specific terminology. Survey questions are at risk for biases like social desirability bias , the Hawthorne effect , or demand characteristics . It’s critical to use language that respondents will easily understand, and avoid words with vague or ambiguous meanings. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, with no indication that you’d prefer a particular answer or emotion. Ordering the survey questions The questions should be arranged in a logical order. Start with easy, non-sensitive, closed-ended questions that will encourage the respondent to continue. If the survey covers several different topics or themes, group together related questions. You can divide a questionnaire into sections to help respondents understand what is being asked in each part. If a question refers back to or depends on the answer to a previous question, they should be placed directly next to one another. Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services Discover proofreading & editing Before you start, create a clear plan for where, when, how, and with whom you will conduct the survey. Determine in advance how many responses you require and how you will gain access to the sample. When you are satisfied that you have created a strong research design suitable for answering your research questions, you can conduct the survey through your method of choice – by mail, online, or in person. There are many methods of analyzing the results of your survey. First you have to process the data, usually with the help of a computer program to sort all the responses. You should also clean the data by removing incomplete or incorrectly completed responses. If you asked open-ended questions, you will have to code the responses by assigning labels to each response and organizing them into categories or themes. You can also use more qualitative methods, such as thematic analysis , which is especially suitable for analyzing interviews. Statistical analysis is usually conducted using programs like SPSS or Stata. The same set of survey data can be subject to many analyses. Finally, when you have collected and analyzed all the necessary data, you will write it up as part of your thesis, dissertation , or research paper . In the methodology section, you describe exactly how you conducted the survey. You should explain the types of questions you used, the sampling method, when and where the survey took place, and the response rate. You can include the full questionnaire as an appendix and refer to it in the text if relevant. Then introduce the analysis by describing how you prepared the data and the statistical methods you used to analyze it. In the results section, you summarize the key results from your analysis. In the discussion and conclusion , you give your explanations and interpretations of these results, answer your research question, and reflect on the implications and limitations of the research. If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples. Student’s  t -distribution Normal distribution Null and Alternative Hypotheses Chi square tests Confidence interval Quartiles & Quantiles Cluster sampling Stratified sampling Data cleansing Reproducibility vs Replicability Peer review Prospective cohort study Research bias Implicit bias Cognitive bias Placebo effect Hawthorne effect Hindsight bias Affect heuristic Social desirability bias A questionnaire is a data collection tool or instrument, while a survey is an overarching research method that involves collecting and analyzing data from people using questionnaires. A Likert scale is a rating scale that quantitatively assesses opinions, attitudes, or behaviors. It is made up of 4 or more questions that measure a single attitude or trait when response scores are combined. To use a Likert scale in a survey , you present participants with Likert-type questions or statements, and a continuum of items, usually with 5 or 7 possible responses, to capture their degree of agreement. Individual Likert-type questions are generally considered ordinal data , because the items have clear rank order, but don’t have an even distribution. Overall Likert scale scores are sometimes treated as interval data. These scores are considered to have directionality and even spacing between them. The type of data determines what statistical tests you should use to analyze your data. The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify: Your research questions and/or hypotheses Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative ) The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study ) Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations) Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management) Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis ) Cite this Scribbr article If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator. McCombes, S. (2023, June 22). Survey Research | Definition, Examples & Methods. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/survey-research/ Is this article helpful? Shona McCombes Other students also liked, qualitative vs. quantitative research | differences, examples & methods, questionnaire design | methods, question types & examples, what is a likert scale | guide & examples, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..". I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes” Research Questionnaire Research questionnaires format, research questionnaire samples, what is research questionnaires, types of research questionnaires, distinctions between surveys, polls, and research questionnaires, how to write a good research questionnaire, do’s and don’ts when making research questionnaires, what are the four types of questionnaire in research, what are the 5 questions to ask in a questionnaire, what are the 4 parts of questionnaire in research, what type of questionnaire is used in qualitative research, what are the three main qualities of a good questionnaire, what are the three parts of a research questionnaire, what are the five general rules in formulating questionnaires, what makes a good questionnaire for research, what are close-ended questions in research, how do you organize data in a questionnaire, how many questions should be in a research questionnaire, how do you structure a research questionnaire, can a survey be a questionnaire, why are questionnaires reliable. Research Title: State the title of the research project. Introduction Purpose: Explain the purpose of the questionnaire. Confidentiality: Assure respondents of confidentiality. Instructions: Provide clear instructions on how to complete the questionnaire. Demographic Information Occupation: Education Level: Section 1: Topic-Specific Questions Question 1: [Likert Scale / Multiple Choice / Open-Ended] Question 2: [Likert Scale / Multiple Choice / Open-Ended] Question 3: [Likert Scale / Multiple Choice / Open-Ended] Section 2: Attitudes and Opinions Question 4: [Likert Scale / Multiple Choice / Open-Ended] Question 5: [Likert Scale / Multiple Choice / Open-Ended] Thank You Note: Thank respondents for their time and participation. Contact Information: Provide contact details for follow-up questions. Research Questionnaires for PDF Example of Questionnaire In Research Free Research Questionnaires Quantitative Research Questionnaires Market Research Questionnaire Template Market Research Questionnaire Cheat Sheet Market Research Questionnaire Sample Market Research Assignment – Survey Research Protocol Safety Survey Proposed Project Questionnaire Self-Reflection Questionnaire Quantitative Impact Study Questionnaire Reproduciblility Survey Research Design Service Questionnaire Market Research Questionnaire Market Research Questionnaire Cheat Sheet in PDF Energy Market Survey Questionnaire Market Survey Questionnaire Consumer Market Research Survey New Product Pricing Questionnaire Fundamentals of Survey Research Question and Questionnaire Design Questionnaires – for Research Survey Questionnaire Construction Questionnaire Design Backbone of Research Questionnaires in Clinical Research Questionnaire Design Questionnaire Research With Children Questionnaire Survey of Scientists Sample Research Study Questionnaire Data Design and Analysis for Survey Questionnaire Design in Attitude and Opinion Research Constructing Effective Questionnaires Doctoral Research Study Questionnaires Questionnaires in Second Language Research Questionnaires Pretesting in Marketing Research Questionnaire in Research Design Schools of Education Research Project Survey Simple Research Questionnaires Wrapping Up Types of questionnaires:. Structured Questionnaires : These include predefined questions with fixed response options, useful for quantitative research. Unstructured Questionnaires : These have open-ended questions allowing respondents to answer in their own words, ideal for qualitative research. Semi-Structured Questionnaires : Combine elements of both structured and unstructured questionnaires, providing a balance of fixed responses and open-ended questions. Computer-Assisted Questionnaires : Administered through digital means, they can include multimedia elements and adaptive questioning. Key Questions: Demographic Questions : Gather basic information about respondents (e.g., age, gender, occupation). Behavioral Questions : Understand respondent actions and habits (e.g., purchasing behavior). Attitudinal Questions : Gauge opinions, attitudes, and perceptions. Knowledge-Based Questions : Assess the respondent’s knowledge on a specific topic. Preference Questions : Determine respondent preferences and choices. You should also take a look at our  Research Project Report Main Parts: Introduction : Explains the purpose of the questionnaire and assures confidentiality. Instructions : Provides clear directions on how to complete the questionnaire. Question Body : Contains the main questions grouped by topic or theme. Conclusion : Includes closing statements and thank-you notes for participants. You should also take a look at our  Scientific Research Report Types of Qualitative Questionnaires: Open-Ended Questionnaires : Allow respondents to express their thoughts freely. In-Depth Interviews : Structured like a questionnaire but conducted face-to-face. Narrative Questionnaires : Encourage respondents to tell their stories in detail. Focus Group Questionnaires : Used to guide group discussions around specific topics. Case Study Questionnaires : Collect detailed information about a single case or event. You should also take a look at our  Research Progress Report Essential Qualities: Clarity : Questions should be clear and unambiguous. Relevance : Questions should be directly related to the research objectives. Brevity : Questions should be concise to maintain respondent engagement. Introduction : Sets the context and explains the purpose of the research. Main Body : Contains the core questions grouped by themes or topics. Demographic Section : Collects basic demographic information from respondents. General Rules: Keep It Simple : Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. Be Specific : Ensure each question targets a specific piece of information. Avoid Leading Questions : Ensure questions do not bias the respondent’s answers. Pilot Test : Test the questionnaire with a small group before full deployment. Ensure Anonymity : Assure respondents that their answers will be confidential. Share This Post on Your Network You may also like these articles, 51+ sample food questionnaire templates in pdf | ms word | google docs | apple pages. A food questionnaire can be used for a lot of purposes by a variety of businesses in the food service, hospitality, catering, and restaurant industry. Developing a food questionnaire is… 42+ SAMPLE Audit Questionnaire Templates in PDF | MS Word Whether you come from a startup business to a long-time respected company, any work contains inevitable problems. Indeed, every success, even the smallest ones, deserves to be celebrated. But… browse by categories Questionnaire Description Reconciliation Certificate Spreadsheet Information privacy policy Terms & Conditions Have a language expert improve your writing Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free. Knowledge Base Methodology Doing Survey Research | A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples Doing Survey Research | A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples Published on 6 May 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 10 October 2022. Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analysing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps: Determine who will participate in the survey Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person) Design the survey questions and layout Distribute the survey Analyse the responses Write up the results Surveys are a flexible method of data collection that can be used in many different types of research . Table of contents What are surveys used for, step 1: define the population and sample, step 2: decide on the type of survey, step 3: design the survey questions, step 4: distribute the survey and collect responses, step 5: analyse the survey results, step 6: write up the survey results, frequently asked questions about surveys. Surveys are used as a method of gathering data in many different fields. They are a good choice when you want to find out about the characteristics, preferences, opinions, or beliefs of a group of people. Common uses of survey research include: Social research: Investigating the experiences and characteristics of different social groups Market research: Finding out what customers think about products, services, and companies Health research: Collecting data from patients about symptoms and treatments Politics: Measuring public opinion about parties and policies Psychology: Researching personality traits, preferences, and behaviours Surveys can be used in both cross-sectional studies , where you collect data just once, and longitudinal studies , where you survey the same sample several times over an extended period. Prevent plagiarism, run a free check. Before you start conducting survey research, you should already have a clear research question that defines what you want to find out. Based on this question, you need to determine exactly who you will target to participate in the survey. Populations The target population is the specific group of people that you want to find out about. This group can be very broad or relatively narrow. For example: The population of Brazil University students in the UK Second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands Customers of a specific company aged 18 to 24 British transgender women over the age of 50 Your survey should aim to produce results that can be generalised to the whole population. That means you need to carefully define exactly who you want to draw conclusions about. It’s rarely possible to survey the entire population of your research – it would be very difficult to get a response from every person in Brazil or every university student in the UK. Instead, you will usually survey a sample from the population. The sample size depends on how big the population is. You can use an online sample calculator to work out how many responses you need. There are many sampling methods that allow you to generalise to broad populations. In general, though, the sample should aim to be representative of the population as a whole. The larger and more representative your sample, the more valid your conclusions. There are two main types of survey: A questionnaire , where a list of questions is distributed by post, online, or in person, and respondents fill it out themselves An interview , where the researcher asks a set of questions by phone or in person and records the responses Which type you choose depends on the sample size and location, as well as the focus of the research. Questionnaires Sending out a paper survey by post is a common method of gathering demographic information (for example, in a government census of the population). You can easily access a large sample. You have some control over who is included in the sample (e.g., residents of a specific region). The response rate is often low. Online surveys are a popular choice for students doing dissertation research , due to the low cost and flexibility of this method. There are many online tools available for constructing surveys, such as SurveyMonkey and Google Forms . You can quickly access a large sample without constraints on time or location. The data is easy to process and analyse. The anonymity and accessibility of online surveys mean you have less control over who responds. If your research focuses on a specific location, you can distribute a written questionnaire to be completed by respondents on the spot. For example, you could approach the customers of a shopping centre or ask all students to complete a questionnaire at the end of a class. You can screen respondents to make sure only people in the target population are included in the sample. You can collect time- and location-specific data (e.g., the opinions of a shop’s weekday customers). The sample size will be smaller, so this method is less suitable for collecting data on broad populations. Oral interviews are a useful method for smaller sample sizes. They allow you to gather more in-depth information on people’s opinions and preferences. You can conduct interviews by phone or in person. You have personal contact with respondents, so you know exactly who will be included in the sample in advance. You can clarify questions and ask for follow-up information when necessary. The lack of anonymity may cause respondents to answer less honestly, and there is more risk of researcher bias. Like questionnaires, interviews can be used to collect quantitative data : the researcher records each response as a category or rating and statistically analyses the results. But they are more commonly used to collect qualitative data : the interviewees’ full responses are transcribed and analysed individually to gain a richer understanding of their opinions and feelings. Next, you need to decide which questions you will ask and how you will ask them. It’s important to consider: The type of questions The content of the questions The phrasing of the questions The ordering and layout of the survey Open-ended vs closed-ended questions There are two main forms of survey questions: open-ended and closed-ended. Many surveys use a combination of both. Closed-ended questions give the respondent a predetermined set of answers to choose from. A closed-ended question can include: A binary answer (e.g., yes/no or agree/disagree ) A scale (e.g., a Likert scale with five points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree ) A list of options with a single answer possible (e.g., age categories) A list of options with multiple answers possible (e.g., leisure interests) Closed-ended questions are best for quantitative research . They provide you with numerical data that can be statistically analysed to find patterns, trends, and correlations . Open-ended questions are best for qualitative research. This type of question has no predetermined answers to choose from. Instead, the respondent answers in their own words. Open questions are most common in interviews, but you can also use them in questionnaires. They are often useful as follow-up questions to ask for more detailed explanations of responses to the closed questions. The content of the survey questions To ensure the validity and reliability of your results, you need to carefully consider each question in the survey. All questions should be narrowly focused with enough context for the respondent to answer accurately. Avoid questions that are not directly relevant to the survey’s purpose. When constructing closed-ended questions, ensure that the options cover all possibilities. If you include a list of options that isn’t exhaustive, you can add an ‘other’ field. Phrasing the survey questions In terms of language, the survey questions should be as clear and precise as possible. Tailor the questions to your target population, keeping in mind their level of knowledge of the topic. Use language that respondents will easily understand, and avoid words with vague or ambiguous meanings. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, with no bias towards one answer or another. Ordering the survey questions The questions should be arranged in a logical order. Start with easy, non-sensitive, closed-ended questions that will encourage the respondent to continue. If the survey covers several different topics or themes, group together related questions. You can divide a questionnaire into sections to help respondents understand what is being asked in each part. If a question refers back to or depends on the answer to a previous question, they should be placed directly next to one another. Before you start, create a clear plan for where, when, how, and with whom you will conduct the survey. Determine in advance how many responses you require and how you will gain access to the sample. When you are satisfied that you have created a strong research design suitable for answering your research questions, you can conduct the survey through your method of choice – by post, online, or in person. There are many methods of analysing the results of your survey. First you have to process the data, usually with the help of a computer program to sort all the responses. You should also cleanse the data by removing incomplete or incorrectly completed responses. If you asked open-ended questions, you will have to code the responses by assigning labels to each response and organising them into categories or themes. You can also use more qualitative methods, such as thematic analysis , which is especially suitable for analysing interviews. Statistical analysis is usually conducted using programs like SPSS or Stata. The same set of survey data can be subject to many analyses. Finally, when you have collected and analysed all the necessary data, you will write it up as part of your thesis, dissertation , or research paper . In the methodology section, you describe exactly how you conducted the survey. You should explain the types of questions you used, the sampling method, when and where the survey took place, and the response rate. You can include the full questionnaire as an appendix and refer to it in the text if relevant. Then introduce the analysis by describing how you prepared the data and the statistical methods you used to analyse it. In the results section, you summarise the key results from your analysis. A Likert scale is a rating scale that quantitatively assesses opinions, attitudes, or behaviours. It is made up of four or more questions that measure a single attitude or trait when response scores are combined. To use a Likert scale in a survey , you present participants with Likert-type questions or statements, and a continuum of items, usually with five or seven possible responses, to capture their degree of agreement. Individual Likert-type questions are generally considered ordinal data , because the items have clear rank order, but don’t have an even distribution. Overall Likert scale scores are sometimes treated as interval data. These scores are considered to have directionality and even spacing between them. The type of data determines what statistical tests you should use to analyse your data. A questionnaire is a data collection tool or instrument, while a survey is an overarching research method that involves collecting and analysing data from people using questionnaires. Cite this Scribbr article If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator. McCombes, S. (2022, October 10). Doing Survey Research | A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 21 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/research-methods/surveys/ Is this article helpful? Shona McCombes Other students also liked, qualitative vs quantitative research | examples & methods, construct validity | definition, types, & examples, what is a likert scale | guide & examples. TemplateLab Questionnaire Templates 30+ questionnaire templates (word). If you’re looking to gain insights on your audience or customers, a questionnaire or social survey is a reliable method used to collect standardized data from large numbers of people. (All of the information is collected in the exact same way. Questionnaires are often used by the government to find out more information about geographic areas, the lifestyles of its citizens, and assess which programs get funded . Many government entities rely on questionnaires to run programs or fund certain initiatives. This is because surveys are a favorite way to collect data in a statistical form. Table of Contents 1 Questionnaire Templates 2.1 What Kinds of Surveys Work Best? 3.1 Choosing Your Template By The Questions Your Survey Asks 3.2 Choosing Your Questions Carefully 4.1 Getting the Answers and Responses You Need For Your Research 4.2 Why Are Questionnaires Better than Focus Groups? 4.3 What Factors Affect The Response Rate of Your Questionnaires? 4.4 Get the Most Out Of Your Questionnaire and Survey Templates A questionnaire is a powerful tool that provides the important function of eliciting the feelings, beliefs, perceptions, or attitudes of a group of individuals. In other words, to collect valuable and previously unknown data. The questionnaire is most frequently a very concise, preplanned set of questions designed to yield specific information to meet a particular need for research information about a pertinent topic. The research information is attained from respondents normally from a related interest area. The dictionary definition gives a clearer definition: A questionnaire is a written or printed form used in gathering information on some subject or subjects consisting of a list of questions to be submitted to one or more persons. How Do Businesses Use Questionnaires and Surveys? Using a questionnaire to find out more about your customers or other stakeholders, as a business or organization, is essential to adequate audience research. You can use this information to get to know your audience better, plan communication with them, and even orchestrate campaigns tailored to the ideas you’ve surveyed them about. How do you put this into practice, anyway? Well, let’s say, for example, Ted is a small business owner that sells upscale, designed umbrellas on his website. He has a few colorful designs, but he want to raise he prices in order to carry more choices of designer umbrellas. He also wants to sell a raincoat line and Tom wonders if his target customers will think it’s all too fancy. In order to put his “feelers” out, Tom decides to incentivize a survey on his website asking questions from people who have previously purchased from him. All of the survey respondents will be entered into a raffle worth $100 on his website. Because of this, he gets over 200 responses. He’s able to ask the questions he needs about the potential product line he wants to add. When the response is overwhelmingly positive, he knows that the quantitative data he acquires is worth the wait. Are you ready to get started? We have several Excel questionnaire templates available for download on this page as well as questionnaire templates for Word. They’re free to help you get started. Or, alternatively, keep reading to learn more about how to put these templates to best use. What Kinds of Surveys Work Best? If you want to gather unique and powerful information about an audience, a survey can help you tailor your questions and gauge their reactions accordingly. The kind of information you are seeking will help you determine the type of surveys you want to put into motion. Basically, there are three types of surveys that are used for research purposes. There are factual surveys, which are used to collect descriptive information, such as demographic information that is used by the government to collect data. Attitude surveys, often called opinion polls, attempt to collect and measure people’s attitudes and opinions.  Explanatory surveys go a step further in seeking out opinions. They’re designed to test theories and hypothesis as well as form new theories. Essentially, the type of survey or questionnaire you choose will be tailored to your project. If you’re looking to capture the attitudes of young voters across America, then you may want to offer multiple-choice questions to allow them to explain their levels of interest and involvement in certain issues. Researchers usually use questionnaires to make data-driven generalizations about attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. Because of this, you must be very careful when choosing whom you will be surveying, such as your customers or donors. These carefully selected samples should reflect the diversity of your base in order to be as accurate as possible. In fact, most often, a survey therefore, the surveys are usually based on carefully selected samples.   There are also many types of questionnaire templates for Excel and Word that may fit your purposes. We have several templates available for free download on this page.    Questionnaire Examples  Choosing Your Template By The Questions Your Survey Asks If you’re getting ready to design a questionnaire, you will want to know some of the basics about survey design. The type of questions you will be asking your participants will decide the design of your survey and questionnaires, in part. Keep in mind that a neat, clean document design is also important for practical purposes; after all, a disorganized survey can be a pain for both the participants as well as the researcher. There are basically two kinds of questionnaires that are used by researchers. Closed or restricted form surveys, which simply ask  “yes” or “no” answers, or multiple choice-type questions, are known for being fairly easy to interpret and summarize. The second type of questionnaire, called an open or unrestricted survey, allows respondents to answer freely as they see fit. While these types of surveys are great for learning in-depth about the users and their thoughts, they can also be difficult to interpret and summarize.     Restricted surveys will work great with our Excel Questionnaire templates, while you may choose a Microsoft Word questionnaire template to ask users open-ended questions. Choosing Your Questions Carefully A questionnaire template is only as good as the questions you are asking. Sometimes a survey will include what is essentially a “loaded question”, meant to skew the results one way or another. This is often used by biased news sources or politicians who want to portray a public opinion that aligns with their views. This is great for propaganda purposes, but for actual, scientifically sound research on opinions, you’ll want to use questions that can be answered in a way that will truly reflect the views of your respondents. When writing out the questions you will ask, keep the following questions in mind for yourself: Is each question you’re asking truly necessary? How will the answers to the questions be used? How will the answers to your questionnaire be analyzed, and interpreted? How many questions are truly needed? (Anything over 10 may have a high drop-out rate) Do questionnaire respondents have the information/experience necessary to answer your questions? Is the question written in a clear way, with no bias or emotional overtones? Will the survey respondents feel comfortable answering the question honestly? Could the wording of the question possibly offend or put-off respondents? Are you going to ask direct or indirect questions? If a checklist is used , do you have a wide range of answers to choose from? Or are you forcing opinions on somebody? Is the answer to any of your questions likely to be influenced by prior questions you’ve asked? (If so, you may want to change the order up to keep participants from drawing conclusion.) Your questionnaires should all be exactly alike, unless you’re testing the survey itself to see which one gets the most responses. Questionnaires used on a template should consist of the same set of questions, asked in the same order every time. Questionnaire Samples Getting the Answers and Responses You Need For Your Research When conducting research, you can either have the participants fill out the surveys themselves, or you can have researchers interview participants over the phone or face-to-face. If you’re having your respondents fill out the questionnaire, you may want to incentivize filling it out and returning it. Consider giving a coupon reward or holding a raffle for a gift certificate . Each person who returns their form by a certain date will get a chance at these rewards. Also consider which mode of deliver you find most useful. Postal questionnaires can be used, but you’ll want to make sure you can count on the group returning their answers and to the researcher by a specified time and date. Telephone questionnaires can be set up to robocall, but most people find them annoying so they tend to be ineffective. You could also use your printed questionnaire to administer the questions to a group. For example, you may want to survey members of a certain club or organization. If you choose this option, be aware that groups tend to hold a bias when they fill out questionnaires in the same room together and tend to also have trouble concentrating on the task at hand when in the presence of their social circle. Some forms of surveys will be done on the Internet with a link emailed to the questions. This is a very simple way to do our research. You can keep this data tabulated in a structured way by using an Excel questionnaire template, or you can choose to use a plain old pen and paper to tabulate your responses. Another way to conduct surveys and questionnaires is to have the questions asked in a structured and formal way by an interviewer in a setting where each participant is interviewed one at a time. The greatest advantage of this type of research is that the interviewer can clarify any ambiguous-sounding questions and help if the respondent is confused in any way. Why Are Questionnaires Better than Focus Groups? Many marketers will use questionnaires and surveys to get vital information about their customer to use in their future marketing campaigns. Questionnaires are a great way to make audience segmentation easier; as long as you know which questions you need answer. They’re also much cheaper in comparison to other data-gathering methods. Questionnaires and surveys are more economical than training interviewers and holding focus groups. Most focus groups will require some sort of compensation and there is always a chance of interview bias involved in them. Sometimes these groups can veer off-topic as well. For this reason, having respondents fill out their own surveys gives you, as a researcher, more control over the results and guaranteed answers to your question. When you design your questionnaire in Word, you’ll want to pay attention to the uniformity of the questions. Through this, questionnaires may give you more data than most in=person meetings or interviews. You can still guide the readers toward an answer if you are not careful, but at least make sure that the questionnaires are uniform, asking the same questions, in the same order, in the same way.  If the questions are highly structured, and you provide multiple choice answers, then the survey you are working with is standardize and therefore more likely to answer the deeper questions surrounding the research h you are doing. Please keep in mind, when designing your surveys and using Word or Excel templates, that a random sampling is the best way to distribute a survey. By asking a random group of customers or people in a certain demographic or geographic area, you will be able to rule out biased samples. If you are using incentives to entice people to respond to your survey, then you should realize that some people might only be participating in your survey to get the “prize”. Because of this, your survey may fall short and have biased respondents who may not even be totally honest about their opinions. What Factors Affect The Response Rate of Your Questionnaires? There are several factors to keep in mind as you begin to fill out your survey or questionnaire templates. There are a few things that can affect the outcome of a mailing or other campaign asking a sampling of people to respond. Ask yourself the following questions before doing any mailing, postal or email : What is the length of the questionnaire? Is it too long and consuming for most people to answer? Keep it to one page or less than ten questions to optimize responses. What is the reputation of the business or organization sending out the survey? If you’re a political organization known for a right or left-leaning ideology, you will likely have people who oppose your ideology that may ignore your survey or skew it on purpose. Are the questions too complex or have you simplified them to eliminate any ambiguities? Are the questions on a subject that the respondent may find important? Can you change the wording to reflect more urgency? When a respondent feels that their opinion is truly needed and important, they are more likely to answer your questions. What time of year are you sending your surveys out? Think about the timing of your mailing in relation to national and religious holidays. Don’t send a survey out to parents in the middle of summer vacation. It will sit unopened if they are out of town. Are you asking questions that only your sampling group can answer? Don’t overlap with publicly available information such as demographic data that can be easily found in free government sources such as the census. Get the Most Out Of Your Questionnaire and Survey Templates A good questionnaire deals with a topic that the recipient will feel is important and has opinions on. Each survey you send out should have an accompanying letter that explains why it’s important to spend time completing it. For example, if you’re a nonprofit surveying the community to decide where you will allocate funds this year within the community, you should explain how the answers would shape new programs that will provide vital services. The importance of the answers should be stated clearly and the cover letter should make a compelling introduction to the needs you have for the information. Are you ready to get started with your own survey or questionnaire? We have free Word and Excel templates ready for you to download and start customizing today. More Templates Mind Map Templates Likert Scale Templates Secret Santa Questionnaires Behavior Charts Ecomap Templates Army Counseling Forms Choose Your Test Search Blogs By Category College Admissions AP and IB Exams GPA and Coursework 113 Great Research Paper Topics General Education One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you. In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper. What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic? Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics. #1: It's Something You're Interested In A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well. #2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper. Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper. #3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing. 113 Good Research Paper Topics Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for. Arts/Culture Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance . Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world. How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years? How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music? How has rap music evolved in the past decade? How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed? Current Events What have been the impacts of China's one child policy? How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades? How has the Trump presidency changed international relations? Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea. What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment? What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage? How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries? How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades? How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US? What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US? What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)? What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power? Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) . Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers? Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests? Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal? Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools? Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms? How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies? What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ? Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on? What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act? How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries? What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health? Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools? Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools? Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching? How does college debt affect future life choices of students? Should graduate students be able to form unions? What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US? How and why have divorce rates changed over time? Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace? Should physician-assisted suicide be legal? How has stem cell research impacted the medical field? How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world? Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money? Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes? Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer? Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another. Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result? Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs? Which prison reforms have proven most effective? Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet? Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy? What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet? How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss? How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other? What are the most effective ways to treat depression ? What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods? Which methods are most effective for improving memory? What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US? What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis? Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic . Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss? How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week? Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children? What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs? How does stress affect the body? Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials? Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation? How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina? What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire? What were the impacts of British rule in India ? Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States? What were the causes of the Civil War? How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War? Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution? What caused Hitler's rise to power? Discuss how a specific invention impacted history. What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt? How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries? What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ? Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church? Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.) How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church? How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries? What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States? What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha? How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th? Science/Environment How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades? How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US? Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades. Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time. How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods? How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety? What are the pros and cons of fracking? What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far? What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been? How can we improve access to clean water around the world? Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment? Should the US rely on nuclear energy more? What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction? What impact has climate change had on coral reefs? How are black holes created? Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression? How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users? Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles. How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods? Has social media made people more or less connected? What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ? Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity? What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom? How is Google search affecting our intelligence? When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone? Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates? How to Write a Great Research Paper Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers. #1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it! As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom." If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion." #2: Back Every Statement Up With Research Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give. #3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make! Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper. What's Next? Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium . Thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? 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Ask a Question Below Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! References provide the information necessary for readers to identify and retrieve each work cited in the text . Check each reference carefully against the original publication to ensure information is accurate and complete. Accurately prepared references help establish your credibility as a careful researcher and writer. Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements (who, when, what, and where) with ease. When you present each reference in a consistent fashion, readers do not need to spend time determining how you organized the information. And when searching the literature yourself, you also save time and effort when reading reference lists in the works of others that are written in APA Style. Academic Writer ® Master academic writing with APA’s essential teaching and learning resource Course Adoption Teaching APA Style? Become a course adopter of the 7th edition Publication Manual Instructional Aids Guides, checklists, webinars, tutorials, and sample papers for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of APA Style Trajectories of disability and influence of contextual factors among adults aging with HIV: insights from a community-based longitudinal study in Toronto, Canada Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Tai-Te Su ORCID record for Lisa Avery ORCID record for Soo Chan Carusone ORCID record for Ada Tang ORCID record for Patricia Solomon ORCID record for Aileen M. Davis ORCID record for Kelly K. O'Brien For correspondence: [email protected] Info/History Supplementary material Preview PDF Background: Individuals aging with HIV may experience disability that is multidimensional and evolving over time. Our aims were to characterize the longitudinal trajectories of disability and to investigate how intrinsic and extrinsic contextual factors influence dimensions of disability over an 8-month period among adults aging with HIV. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal observational data from a community-based study in Toronto, Canada, where adults aging with HIV completed self-reported questionnaires over 8 months (5 time points). We measured disability using the Short-Form HIV Disability Questionnaire (SF-HDQ), which included six dimensions: physical, cognitive, mental-emotional health challenges, uncertainty, difficulties with day-to-day activities, and challenges to social inclusion. Higher SF-HDQ scores (range: 0-100) indicate greater severity of disability. We assessed intrinsic (age, gender, education, living status, number of comorbidities, mastery) and extrinsic (stigma, social support) contextual factors using baseline self-reported questionnaires. Latent class growth analysis was performed to identify distinct disability trajectories within each of the six dimensions. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the influence of contextual factors on the disability trajectories. Results: Of 108 participants, 89% identified as men with a mean age of 50.6 years (standard deviation ±10.9). We identified three disability trajectories: low, medium, and high disability severity in the physical, mental-emotional, and day-to-day activities dimensions. Four trajectories: low, medium-low, medium-high, and high (or high-declining) disability severity were in the cognitive, uncertainty, and social inclusion dimensions. Factors such as higher self-mastery and social support were associated with lower disability trajectories, whereas greater number of comorbidities and stigma were associated with more severe disability trajectories over time. Conclusion: Disability experiences among adults aging with HIV included three or four distinct trajectories with considerable heterogeneity over time. Information on contextual factors may be helpful for informing interventions and supports that mitigate disability among adults aging with HIV. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Clinical Protocols https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/10/e013618 Funding Statement This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research (CBR) Program (Funding Reference Number #CBR-139685; 160 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0W9). https://cihrirsc. gc.ca/e/193.html. Tai-Te Su was supported by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Endgame Research Program Breaking New Ground Award (EFP-1121-BNG) (https://www.ohtn.on.ca/). KKO is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Episodic Disability and Rehabilitation from the Canada Research Chairs Program (https://www.chairschaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx). AT was supported by a Clinician-Scientist Award (Phase II) from the Ontario Heart & Stroke Foundation (P-19-TA-1192). AMB was supported by the Fondation Alma and Baxter Ricard Chair in Inner City Health at St. Michaels Hospital and the University of Toronto. Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The research was approved by the HIV/AIDS Research Ethics Board at the University of Toronto (Protocol #32910). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. This revised version of the manuscript includes ORCID IDs for authors and supplemental files. Data Availability All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting information files. View the discussion thread. Supplementary Material Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about medRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. 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A questionnaire is a list of questions or items used to gather data from respondents about their attitudes, experiences, or opinions. Questionnaires can be used to collect quantitative and/or qualitative information. Questionnaires are commonly used in market research as well as in the social and health sciences. 20+ SAMPLE Research Questionnaires Templates in PDF A research questionnaire is a tool that consists of a series of standardized questions with the intent of collecting information from a sample of people. Think of it as a kind of written interview that follows a fixed scheme to ensure that data remains accurate. 21 Questionnaire Templates: Examples and Samples A questionnaire is defined a market research instrument that consists of questions or prompts to elicit and collect responses from a sample of respondents. This article enlists 21 questionnaire templates along with samples and examples. It also describes the different types of questionnaires and the question types that are used in these questionnaires. Designing a Questionnaire for a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide A questionnaire is an important instrument in a research study to help the researcher collect relevant data regarding the research topic. It is significant to ensure that the design of the ... Questionnaire There are several modes of questionnaire administration. The choice of mode depends on the research objectives, sample size, and available resources. Some common modes of administration include: Self-administered paper questionnaires: Participants complete the questionnaire on paper, either in person or by mail. This mode is relatively low cost ... PDF Designing a Questionnaire for a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide writing questions and building the construct of the questionnaire. It also develops the demand to pre-test the questionnaire and finalizing the questionnaire to conduct the survey. Keywords: Questionnaire, Academic Survey, Questionnaire Design, Research Methodology I. INTRODUCTION A questionnaire, as heart of the survey is based on a set of 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries. Research Question Examples ‍ A well-crafted research question (or set of questions) sets the stage for a robust study and meaningful insights. But, if you're new to research, it's not always clear what exactly constitutes a good research question. In this post, we'll provide you with clear examples of quality research questions across various disciplines, so that you can approach your research project with confidence! Hands-on guide to questionnaire research: Selecting, designing, and This is the first in a series of three articles on questionnaire research. References w1-w17, ... Numerous research students and conference delegates provided methodological questions and case examples of real life questionnaire research, which provided the inspiration and raw material for this series. ... This series of papers arose directly ... PDF Question and Questionnaire Design 1. Early questions should be easy and pleasant to answer, and should build rapport between the respondent and the researcher. 2. Questions at the very beginning of a questionnaire should explicitly address the topic of the survey, as it was described to the respondent prior to the interview. 3. Questions on the same topic should be grouped ... Research Questionnaire The research questionnaire is one of the quantitative data-gathering methods a researcher can use in their research paper. 1. Market Research Questionnaire Template Example. Details. File Format. Size: 38 KB. Download. 2. Market Research Questionnaire Example. (PDF) Questionnaires and Surveys What does survey sample size depend on, above and beyond the practical ... These studies were analysed by using the descriptive content analysis research method based on the Paper Classification ... (PDF) Designing a Questionnaire for a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Designing a Questionnaire for a Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide to Design and Develop an Effective Questionnaire Hamed Taherdoost To cite this version: Hamed Taherdoost. ... It is required to assess this concept because the sample needs to be a good representative of the population. This subject is investigated by the concept of response ... 4 Types of Questionnaire + Free Question Examples Disadvantages of Paper Questionnaire Paper questionnaires have a huge financial cost implication. It can only be used when you have a small sample size that has physical proximity. If your research requires large data sets from a large audience, paper questionnaires may not be suitable for use. Face-to-Face Interview. You can also administer a ... 17+ Free Questionnaire Templates & Examples A questionnaire template is a pre-constructed tool consisting of systematically arranged questions intended to elicit specific responses from individuals. Serving as the cornerstone for consistent and effective data collection, these templates enable researchers in various fields—including market research, education, and public health—to facilitate insightful analysis and draw meaningful ... 150+ Free Questionnaire Examples & Sample Survey Templates Corporate Legal Training Quiz Template. All our sample survey template questions are expert-certified by professional survey methodologists to make sure you ask questions the right way-and get reliable results. You can send out our templates as is, choose separate variables, add additional questions, or customize our questionnaire templates ... Quantitative Research Questionnaire Quantitative research questions allow researchers to gather empirical data to answer their research problems. As we have discussed the different types of quantitative research questions above, it's time to learn how to write the perfect quantitative research questions for a questionnaire and streamline your research process. Survey Research Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analyzing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps: Determine who will participate in the survey. Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person) Design the survey questions and layout. Free 39+ Research Questionnaires Samples, PDF, MS Word Research questionnaires are vital tools for gathering data and insights in various fields. This comprehensive guide explores how to design and use them effectively. Whether you are working on Sample Questionnaires or Medical Questionnaires, understanding the principles of good questionnaire design can significantly impact your research outcomes. Questionnaire Design Revised on 10 October 2022. A questionnaire is a list of questions or items used to gather data from respondents about their attitudes, experiences, or opinions. Questionnaires can be used to collect quantitative and/or qualitative information. Questionnaires are commonly used in market research as well as in the social and health sciences. Doing Survey Research Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analysing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps: Determine who will participate in the survey. Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person) Design the survey questions and layout. Distribute the survey. 30+ Questionnaire Templates (Word) ᐅ TemplateLab Questionnaire Examples . Download 20 KB #11. Download 33 KB #12. Download 68 KB #13. Download 26 KB #14. ... or you can choose to use a plain old pen and paper to tabulate your responses. ... then the survey you are working with is standardize and therefore more likely to answer the deeper questions surrounding the research h you are doing. 113 Great Research Paper Topics · PrepScholar One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you. References References provide the information necessary for readers to identify and retrieve each work cited in the text. Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements with ease. Trajectories of disability and influence of contextual factors among Background: Individuals aging with HIV may experience disability that is multidimensional and evolving over time. Our aims were to characterize the longitudinal trajectories of disability and to investigate how intrinsic and extrinsic contextual factors influence dimensions of disability over an 8-month period among adults aging with HIV. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal observational data ... assignment essay homework phd report resume review speech thesis