Abstract
According to the total survey error theory, most survey errors are stemming from non-sampling error—errors such as response and non-response. This chapter discusses the importance of questionnaire design and specific question phrasing and how they affect response rate and quality of response. Providing a detail account of the various stages in preparing a valid and reliable questionnaire provides the readers with a helpful tool that will guide researchers through the complex and daunting task from single item phrasing to the presentation of an entire questionnaire.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Converse, J. M., & Presser, S. (1986). Survey questions: Handcrafting the standardized questionnaire. Sage Series: Quantitative Application in the Social Sciences, 63(7), 9–79.
Gideon, L. (2012). Theories of research methodology: Readings in methods (pp. 27–42). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.
Johnson, L. B., & Christensen, L. B. (2010). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.
Lin, N. (1986). Conceptualizing social support. In N. Lin, A. Dean, & W. Edsel (Eds.), Social Support, Life Events, and Depression (pp. 17–30). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Maruna, S., & King, A. (2009). Once a criminal, always a criminal?: ‘Redeemability’ and the psychology of punitive public attitudes. European Journal of Crime Policy Research, 15, 7–24.
Recommended Websites:
Creative Research Systems: How to design your own survey: http://www.surveysystem.com/sdesign.htm.
SurveyBuilder: Create Unlimited Online Surveys: https://www.surveybuilder.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=create%20survey&utm_campaign=Survey+Builder+Free.
How to Write a Good Survey: http://www.accesscable.net/~infopoll/tips.htm.
Research Methods Knowledge Base: Constructing the Survey: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/survwrit.php.
Elizabeth Martin: Survey Questionnaire Construction, U.S. Census Bureau, December 2006 (PDF): http://www.census.gov/srd/papers/pdf/rsm2006-13.pdf.
Survey Design Tutorial: http://www.statpac.com/surveys/.
Science Buddies: Designing a Survey: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Soc_survey.shtml.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gideon, L. (2012). The Art of Question Phrasing. In: Gideon, L. (eds) Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3876-2_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3876-2_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3875-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3876-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)