Yes/No Questions vs. All-That-Apply Questions
Sometimes you have to say “No” to yes/no questions! While such questions are easy to write, they are not right for every task.
The Case for Fully Labeled Scales
Your client says that questionnaire you’re writing should ask your customers “What is your overall satisfaction with our product?” and should use a five-point scale. Sounds simple, you think to yourself, then go to write the question. Which format do you use? Like...
Weighting Survey Results
The American Association of Public Opinion Researchers encourages journalists to ask how newsmaker surveys were weighted. Yet, of surveys announced in 2021 news releases, only 9% were weighted. Post-stratification weighting is typically done once a survey is complete...
Report Survey Results without Parroting the Questionnaire
When you analyze and report survey results, focus on the story you want to tell – don’t assume the questionnaire’s structure is the best for analysis. A properly designed questionnaire provides a narrative thread that conversationally moves the respondent from one...
Rewrite Agreement Scales to Eliminate Acquiescence Bias
Agreement scales, measuring how much the public agrees or disagrees with a particular idea, are one of the most popular types of questions. Unfortunately, they are also one of the least reliable types of questions. Since respondents tend to exaggerate their actual...