Bad questionnaire and errors in poll questionaires

On this occasion we are going to make some considerations on how to identify a poorly constructed an opinion poll questionnaire.
Without prentender that this list is exhaustive, will point out some ways to identify errors in questions or parts of a questionnaire.

• The questions used language or sociological categories that produce that respondents answered that they believe is expected to respond or misinterpret questions.


• The respondent believes that must be identify - for example in a closed with options question - what is the correct answer. Not involved in the sense of expressing their views by an error in the way of asking and sometimes in the mode of lead pollster. He believes that it is like a game that has to guess the correct answer option.


• Questions closed with options options are not mutually exclusive, either not exhausted all possibilities for response. So the alternatives are mutually independent and do not leave any aspect sociologically relevant is convenient to pilot test these questions (or the questionnaire). Occurs when a survey or a question has many instances for people that are not decided by any of the suggested alternatives, opting not to respond, point out missing some option or make verbalizaciones as "it depends" or "the question is poorly worded", or the "don't know" which isn't really a does not know. Sometimes reviewers and pollsters are right on wrong questions.


• The answers are elusive and notoriously false. It happens on sensitive issues, to find the right way to ask and have questions in the questionnaire. Also by the misuse of certain words in the question that lead to the above-mentioned responses by respondents.


• There is an overwhelming majority of favourable response or adverse responses.


• Redundancy: wasted resources asking something they already know.

These are some ways to identify mistakes in the questions of the questionnaires of opinion polls from the responses obtained after the field work.

The respondent to the survey questions of opinion

When performing a social survey or an opinion poll is important to know how and what to ask not only for research but also to maximize the responsiveness of the respondents.
In this sense, knowing how to formulate the questions thinking of the respondent can be crucial to the success of the survey.
It is important to bring the motivation of the respondent to ensure honesty in responding and collaboration.
To do this the good presentation of the respondent is fundamental: to take the appropriate credentials or certification, good presence, experience in handling the situation, the interviewer know what you are doing in order to evacuate any doubts of the respondents.
It is important to have a proper introduction to the survey in particular and transmit to the respondent to answer the idea that you bring something, that the survey is important to him or to society and that their opinion is valuable and will be taken into account.
A guiding principle of the polls is that the respondent should always be satisfied, as well respond with more interest next time.
It is important that questions allude to the subject's experiences, their desires and to channel deep thoughts: the worse the respondent's answer is placed over another person.
The survey questions should encourage the role of the interviewee, thus they respond better, draw their opinions more authentic and will be pleased to respond.

How to assemble the Questionnaire

Here are some tips to make an effective survey from a good questionnaire.
In general, the statistical questions (those that serve more embarrassing to classify the questionnaire for socioeconomic status) should be made at the end of the questionnaire, but may be necessary to use some initial questions filter to know if any do the survey to the respondent, and for appropriate use of hops in the questionnaire.
All survey questions must be clear and not ambiguous or vague.
When there are no scales, we recommend you ask the respondent to choose one option.
The categories "do not knows" and "no answer" should be included as little as possible.
Multiple-choice lists should be short, comprehensive and manageable for the interviewer and respondent.
Rotation is recommended reading, as it is known that people tend to choose what is most remember, is the last thing he was appointed.
Finally, the success of a good depends on a questionnaire survey to ask what is fair, with good management and questions on topics ranging from general to specific.