Survey Researcher how-to
How to Write Survey Questions That Get Honest Answers
Question wording shapes answers.
Quick answer
Question wording shapes answers. In short: ask; use; use, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Ask one thing per question.
Use neutral wording.
Use simple words.
Give balanced options.
Avoid jargon.
Pretest with real people.
Safety reminders for survey researchers
- Protect respondent confidentiality
- Follow IRB rules
- Get informed consent
- Store data securely
Key terms
Sample · Population · Margin of error · Response rate · Weighting · Leading question: see the full survey researcher glossary.