Critiquing questionnaire questions Revision Card

AI generatedStatisticsKey Stage 3

Critiquing questionnaire questions.

Use neutral wording, one clear issue, a stated time period and appropriate units.
Response options should be non-overlapping, cover possible answers and be balanced.
Explain the fault and give an improved version.

Example 1

Improve this question: “Don’ you agree our excellent new café is better?”

How would you rate the new café? Very poor / Poor / Neither good nor poor / Good / Very good / Have not visited.

Remove the leading praise and provide balanced response options.

A question asks “How often do you exercise?” with options rarely, sometimes and often. Improve it.

On how many days in the past 7 days did you exercise for at least 30 minutes?

–

–7.

Specify the period and what counts as exercise. Use clear, non-overlapping choices.

Question 1

A survey asks for age with options 10–15, 15–20 and 20–25. Identify and fix the problem.

Check answer

The boundaries overlap. For ages recorded in completed years, use 10–14, 15–19, 20–24, plus under 10 and 25 or over if needed.

A 15-year-old must fit exactly one group. Cover the whole intended population.

Question 2

Improve “Are the buses cheap and reliable?”

Check answer

Ask separately: “How do you rate bus fares?” and “How do you rate bus reliability?”, each with balanced options and a “Do not use buses” option.

One question asks about two different things; a passenger could have different views on each.

Question 3

A food survey offers only “Chicken” or “Beef” as favourite meal options. What should change?

Check answer

Include other relevant choices and an “Other” option, with “No preference” if appropriate.

The answers must allow people to respond accurately, including those who eat neither meat.

Question 4

Improve “How much do you normally spend?” for a study of school lunches.

Check answer

How much did you spend on school lunches in the last 5 school days? Give the amount in pounds, including £0.

State what spending, which time period and which units are required.

Question 5

A survey asks “You don’ waste time gaming, do you?” Improve it.

Check answer

How many hours did you spend gaming in the last 7 days? Include 0 hours.

Use neutral wording so the question does not suggest that one answer is more acceptable.