Guidelines on Constructing Questions

Here is a list of things you need to watch out for, while framing questions:

• Keep the vocabulary simple. Avoid jargon, technical terms, abbreviations and ambiguous or hard to pronounce words.
• Keep the sentence short and easy to understand. Complex questions or overly detailed wording should be avoided.
• Be specific. Avoid words that lack frame of reference — e.g., often, usually and occasionally.
• Double-barrelled questions should be excluded. Example — “How satisfied are you with your bank and your relationship manager?”
• Refrain from leading or suggestive questions. Example — “Do you agree that Nagara drink has great taste? Yes/No”. The purpose of the study is research, not advocacy. This question should accordingly be rephrased as — “Please rate the taste of Nagara drink.”
• Avoid emotive questions. Ideologically loaded expressions or red flags elicit negative responses.
• Do not have questions that are time consuming as these will antagonize respondents.