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Improving Survey Questions
Design and Evaluation
- Floyd J. Fowler, Jr. - Center for Survey Research
Volume:
38
Series:
Applied Social Research Methods
Applied Social Research Methods
September 1995 | 200 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
What is a good question? Although there are several potential sources for error in survey data, the validity of surveys is dependent upon the design of the question asked. This invaluable book shows how to word and format questions that will evoke the kind of answers for which they are designed and how to evaluate empirically survey questions. In addition, the book covers: how to write good questions aimed at collecting information about objective facts and events; measuring subjective phenomena; some alternative methods for attacking common measurement problems; how to evaluate the extent to which questions are consistently understood and administered; and how to evaluate the data resulting from a set of questions.
Questions as Measures
Designing Questions to Gather Factual Data
Questions to Measure Subjective States
Some General Rules for Designing Good Survey Instruments
Presurvey Evaluation of Questions
Assessing the Validity of Survey Questions
Question Design and Evaluation Issues in Perspective
Although this book provides detailed guidance to students regarding development and validation of surveys, the concepts are probably too detailed for a Masters level dissertation. The price of the text is also rather high.
College of Medicine, Swansea University
May 23, 2014