A survey is a set of questions created to find out more information about an issue, usually using a wide range of people. Surveys are examples of quantitative research and allow a researcher to gather large amounts of information at one time.

Important survey tips:• Be objective (don’t just choose people who

think the same way you do)• Select people randomly• Survey a large sample of the population• Inform survey takers about the purpose of the

survey• Keep the identity of the survey taker

confidential• Don’t comment on the respondent’s answers• Always thank the respondent for their time and

effort

A good survey is made up of questions whose answers can be converted into quantifiable (measurable) information. Write survey questions that will allow you to tally results! Don’t ask questions that can be interpreted in different ways.

Before you conduct a survey you must ensure that you abide by the ethical guidelines for research.

This means you NEED informed consent. You must tell the participant:

• The purpose of your survey What are you trying to understand?• How the information will be used Will it be published? Will it be a part of a research paper? Will it be its own case study?• The confidentiality they can expect Will you reveal the participants name?

1. Clarify the purpose or reason for your survey.

What is it that you want to know?

For example, are you trying to test a hypothesis such as “Haig students have a thorough understanding of the negative effects of nicotine”

Or, do you want peoples’ views on topics such as addiction?

Steps

2. Decide what type of questions you will use:

i. Closed questions with fixed answers (i.e. yes or no)

ii. Multiple choice questions with set responses you make-up

iii. Frequency questions with fixed answers (i.e. always, usually, sometimes, never)

iv. Ranking scale questions with a range of fixed answers (i.e. 10 = best, 0 = worst)

*Avoid open-ended questions, if you can’t quantify the results, re-word the question!

Example #1

1. What do you know about Oxycontin?

2. Oxycontin is most commonly used to treat:a)Mild headachesb)Extreme short-term painc) Concussionsd)Malnutrition

Think/Pair/ShareWhich question format is more useful for this assignment? Explain why.

Example #2

1. How do you feel about methamphetamines?

2. In my opinion, methamphetamines are:a)Extremely addictive and harmfulb)A great way to lose weightc) Harmless, not addictive at alld)I have never heard of methamphetamines

Think/Pair/ShareWhich question format is more useful for this assignment? Explain why.

Example #3

1. Do you think DDT should be banned worldwide?

2. DDT is:a)A useful insecticide with no negative side effectsb)A harmful insecticide with many negative side

effectsc) I have never heard of DDT

Think/Pair/ShareWhich question format is more useful for this assignment? Explain why.

3. Test your questions on a friend.

Make sure they are clear, concise, direct, well organized, and not offensive or biased.

Each question must be designed to learn useful information – always ask yourself: why am I asking this question? What do I hope to learn by asking this question?

Make sure the questions are varied enough for the interviewer to gain a meaningful understanding of the topic. Don’t be repetitive.

Make sure you can quantify your responses!

4. Make sure the questions are in a logical order, showing a natural progression of information.

The most difficult component of conducting a survey is designing the questions.

It is well worth it to put time and energy into question design.

Vague, open-ended questions cannot be quantified or analyzed, and you will end up having to go back and start over.

Purposeful, clear, differentiated, and quantifiable questions make data analysis so much easier!