1. Survey techniques The good, the bad,The UGLY

2. Background information

Brief introductory paragraph

Instructions

• how to complete (if special instructions are needed)

• by what date

• for what reason

3. 4. Variety and Sequence

Open ended (Qualitative)and closed (Quantitative)

Closed ended various types

Create a mix of these helps to balance the survey

Keep overall survey brief and to the point

Avoid lengthy questions

5. Survey Organizationand Testing

Pay close attention to how respondents would react to questions put yourself in their situation

Sections of the survey

• Demographic (personal information)

• Topics related to main topic?

• Subtopics?

Pilot test (helpful with closed responses)

6. Layout

How does it look in the web browser?

Accessibility

Questions should be numbered

Individual question phrases

• (Check all that apply) square/check mark

• (Select only one item) round/bullet

7. Filter questions

Add a filter question to weed out respondents with no knowledge of the question topic:

• if you answered NO to question 8, please skip to question 12

Letout responses:

• dont know

• no opinion

• not applicable

8. Question Wording

Avoid ambiguity

Avoid advanced vocabulary

Avoid double-negatives

Avoid asking two questions in one:

• Have you visited the library in the last month and did you check out items?

• • • Yes ______No _______

• • • THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY ANSWER

9. Open ended questions

What do you like most about your library?

Avoid asking many keep to one or two

• Too time consuming to report

• Too difficult to compare

• Factor analysis

• • Looking for trends in verbiage of responses

• • Phrase tracking

10. Closed questions

Offer choices based upon current knowledge and pilot test of survey

Yes/No

Most important (check only one)

Rank order (1, 2, 3, etc.)complicated

Scales odd vs. even number

• Odd number allows on the fence responses and is this good or bad?

11. Closed numerical

Numerical responses should be reviewed carefully

• How many times did you visit the library last year?What is wrong with this set of options?

• • _____ 0

• • _____ 1-5

• • _____ 5-10

• • _____ 11-15

• • _____ 15-21

• • _____ More than 20

• • _____ Dont remember

12. Checklist of items to remember

the overall size of the survey

the 'acceptable' number of questions

the use of sections to organize the survey

the appropriate mixture of question types

the instructions provided to the respondent: for the whole survey, for each section, and for each question

the background information needed to allow respondents to understand

the purpose of the survey