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How to write great questions
Original post on https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-write-great-screener-question-annie?trk=hp-feed-article-title-comment by Annie Pettit https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniepettit @PeanutLab
The article there is written for screeners (the first question in a survey, so are you in our out the survey based on the first quetion. In general, this article helps you to think about questions and anwer options and applies almost for all your VoxVote question. What answer do you really want to know from your audience:
What if I told you someone was giving out free pizza to anyone whose favorite color was orange?
What if someone was giving out free iPhones to anyone who believes voting is important? What if someone was giving out brand new big screen TVs to people who were 5 foot 11 or taller?
What if someone was giving out free iPhones to anyone who believes voting is important? What if someone was giving out brand new big screen TVs to people who were 5 foot 11 or taller?
Let me guess.
Your favorite color is orange, you believe that voting is important, and you are now wearing the highest heels in your closet while standing on your tippy toes. I certainly would be since I’m just one inch away from that new TV.
Your favorite color is orange, you believe that voting is important, and you are now wearing the highest heels in your closet while standing on your tippy toes. I certainly would be since I’m just one inch away from that new TV.
This is how we need to think about screener questions. I don’t believe that people’s intentions are to lie when they answer screener questions. But I do believe that people unconsciously aspire to something and feel left out and neglected when they can’t have something. It’s human nature to want something that other people are getting, to feel part of the group, and to receive the same benefits as other people.
With this in mind, think about a typical screener question for a survey about infant formula. It might look like this:
Have you purchased infant formula in the last 2 weeks?
- Yes
- No
Clearly, anyone who says yes to that question and completes the survey is going to receive benefits. If I know someone who has a baby, perhaps my best friend, my sister, or my son, I might believe that I have sufficient knowledge to respond to the survey with valid answers. But we know that’s not what the researcher intended!
Let’s try a slightly different screener question.
Which of the following items have you purchased in the last 2 weeks?
- Bar soap
- Body wash
- Infant formula
- Shampoo
- None of the above
In this case, there are four possible answers that could apply to anyone. However, there is still a problem. Beside three personal care items, infant formula sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s still an obviously different answer that begs a responder to choose it.
Let’s try one last format.
Which of the following items have you purchased in the last 2 weeks?
- Bar soap
- Muffler
- Infant formula
- USB cable
- None of the above
Success! In this case, the options reflect different categories – personal cleansing, automotive, food, and electronics. It’s impossible to say that one specific answer sticks out and is therefore the answer that will put a free pizza in hand. And, the very ubiquitous bar soap answer allows anyone to choose an answer to feel included.
Conclusion:
So, to make sure you’ve created the perfect screener question, follow these tips.
- Use a multi-select question format, not a yes/no format
- Include a wide range of answer options
- Include similarly rare answer options
- Include one common answer that everyone can legitimately choose
- Use a ‘None of the above’ answer
Happy voting!
Create your question(s) in the VoxVote Designer now.