OPEN-ENDED VS CLOSED-ENDED - use closed-ended
MAKE ITEMS CLEAR - be precise, define terms
AVOID DOUBLE-BARRELED QUESTIONS - two questions in one
should you be given more flexibility and less supervision on your job
AVOID LEADING QUESTIONS -
should bad workers who are always late receive low pay
how often do you hit your dog
FUNNEL/FILTER QUESTIONS -
Do you hit your dog?
If you answered "Yes", how often do you do this?
AVOID UNDEFINED TERMS - "always late", "low pay"
RESPONDENTS MUST BE COMPETENT TO ANSWER- i.e., dating habits
RESPONDENTS MUST BE WILLING TO ANSWER - i.e., abortion
SHORT ITEMS ARE BEST - read and understand an item quickly
AVOID NEGATIVE ITEMS - no negative questions "Do you not approve of abortion"
AVOID BIASED ITEMS AND TERMS - "welfare", "romantic", "love"
AVOID BARNUM ITEMS - do you sometimes worry
GENERAL FORMATTING - spread out, clear, uncluttered
FORMATS FOR RESPONDENTS - check boxes, circle response...
CONTINGENCY QUESTIONS - one question leads to another more; specfic questions
MATRIX QUESTIONS - several questions with same response format
ORDERING ITEMS IN A QUESTIONNAIRE - one answer can influence another, consider your order.