Developing a questionnaire for Qualitative Research:
Some Hints
First few questions could include demographic variables: age, gender, educational background, etc. Include only variables that are relevant to your research. Name is not to be included since generally questionnaires are to be anonymous.
For a qualitative research your questions have to be open-ended. The answers to these questions could be filled by the participant or the researcher could fill in after the interview.
The following points could improve an open-ended questionnaire:
- A question that begs a yes/no answer is not an open-ended question. Example of a closed question: Do you go to church on Sundays? Example of an open-ended question: What do you normally do on Sundays?
- Similarly avoid questions that might beg a one-word answer. Example of a one-word answer question: When did you finish college? Such question could be in the section on demographic questions.
- Do not ask leading questions, those are questions that suggest the answer. Example of a leading question: Did you feel happy when you finished college? Example of an open-ended question: Could you describe how felt when you finished college?
- The questions shouldn’t require long answer. Example of a bad question: How was your childhood? Better question: Could you mention one memorable event from your school life (between Class 1 and Class 5)?
- The level of vocabulary and concepts implied in the questions need to be appropriate to the age and level of education of your participants.
- Balance between action, feeling, and thinking questions. What do you do? What do you feel about…? What are your thoughts on…?
- In the actual questionnaire leave sufficient space to write the answers.
- The number of questions on an open-ended questionnaire will depend on your research question(s). However, it is good to remember that open-ended questions are demanding on the participants and hence are to be kept to the minimum.