Research Survey Guidelines
Survey instruments and questionnaires consist of several sections:
Section 1: The Introduction
The introduction explains the reasons for the survey, assure repondents that that there responses are confidential,
and when and where will the answers will be published.
It also provides contact details and ethics approval number.
Section 2: Instructions
The instruction section is for participants on how to complete the survey.
It is a little bit different between the paper surveys and the web-based survey.
For the paper surveys respondants does not usually provide all of the information they might leave some of the required information empty.
In web-based surveys the researcher can ensure that all sections and required questions are answered by making it (required) to be answered
and if left empty the respondants will not be able to move to the second question.
Section 3: Statements
Respondants should rank their answers to the survey statements according to a 4,5,7 or Ten point scale that is called the Likert scale.
The scales are usually outlined as follows:
The 4 point scale and the 10 point scale do not allow the respondants to return a neutral view either agree or disagree.
The 5 point scale and the 7 point scales do allow a neutral answer.
For some questions and statements might choose not to answer or comment, in that case it is required to add an additional response
column ( not applicable / no opinion / don't know ) responses.
Section 4: Demographics
Respondants profile statements are used to characterise the responses gathered from different groups or sub-groups.
Like age, height, education, gender,...etc.
Section 5: Open ended questions and comments
Researchers can learn more about the thoughts, background and motivation by inviting responses to open ended questions and comments.
