Why is it important for all respondents to interpret a survey question in a consistent manner?

Consistent interpretation ensures that the data collected is accurate and reflects the true opinions or experiences of the respondents, rather than misunderstandings or varying interpretations of the question.

Describe a strategy to increase the likelihood that respondents will answer truthfully when asked about sensitive topics.

Explain why the information is needed and assure respondents that their responses will be kept confidential or anonymous.

What is 'social desirability' in the context of survey responses, and how can it affect the accuracy of survey data?

Social desirability is the tendency for respondents to answer questions in a way that they believe will be viewed favorably by others. This can lead to inaccurate data as respondents may over-report positive behaviors or under-report negative ones.

Provide an example of a double-barreled question and explain why it is problematic.

Example: 'Do you think the city should invest in more parks and improve public transportation?' This is problematic because a respondent may agree with one part (more parks) but disagree with the other (improving public transportation), making it difficult to provide a single, meaningful answer.

Why is pre-testing survey questions considered the most important tip for developing good survey questions?

Pre-testing helps identify potential problems with the questions, such as confusion, ambiguity, or bias, before the survey is administered to a larger sample. It allows researchers to refine their questions and ensure they are eliciting the intended information.

Writing Good Survey Questions Lesson Plan for Grade 11th Grade

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Learning Objective

I can write unbiased survey questions to collect accurate data.

1
A good survey question is one where all respondents interpret the question in a consistent manner, so questions should be as clear and specific as possible.
2
To get people to answer personal questions, you need to craft those questions carefully, explain why you need the information, and assure respondents that you’ll keep their responses confidential or even anonymous.
3
To avoid biased terms or wording, surveys will sometimes give one question to half the sample and a slightly different worded question to another half to see how respondents react to the different wording.

Writing Good Survey Questions

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Learning Objective

Warm-Up Video

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

Exit Ticket

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