Research methods: Questionnaire Design

Designing a questionnaire is an important part of collecting data in research, especially in fields like education, psychology, Islamic studies, and health. A well-structured questionnaire helps you gather clear, useful, and reliable information from your participants.

Step 1: Define the Purpose of Your Questionnaire

Before writing any questions, be clear about what you want to find out. Your questionnaire should be directly connected to your research question or objectives.

Ask yourself:

• What specific information do I need?
• Who am I collecting data from (e.g., students, teachers, community members)?
• Will my questions help me test my hypothesis or answer my research question?

Step 2: Write Clear and Focused Questions

Good questions are easy to understand and free from bias. Avoid vague, leading, or double-barreled questions.

Tips:

• Use simple language
• Ask one thing at a time
• Avoid using terms that your respondents may not understand
• Keep your questionnaire short and focused

Example (Poor): Do you think Islamic psychology and counseling are better than Western approaches?
Example (Better): How familiar are you with Islamic counseling methods?

Step 3: Choose the Right Type of Questions

There are two main types of questions:

• Closed-ended questions: These give participants specific choices and are easier to analyze.
  • Yes/No questions
  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Scaled questions (e.g., Likert scale)
• Open-ended questions: These allow participants to answer in their own words. They give richer information but are harder to analyze.

Example: What role does faith play in your emotional well-being?

Step 4: Use Standard Scales (e.g., Likert Scales)

Scales help measure attitudes, feelings, and opinions in a structured way.

Likert Scale Example:

The following statement refers to your daily practice of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Please indicate your level of agreement.

“Dhikr helps me stay emotionally balanced.”

Why use scales?

• They provide consistency in responses
• They are easy to analyze statistically
• They allow comparison between participants

Step 5: Test Your Questionnaire

Before sending your questionnaire to a large group, test it on a few people to check:

• Are the questions clear?
• Are the instructions easy to follow?
• How long does it take to complete?

This is called a pilot study and helps you improve the final version.

Step 6: Ethical Considerations

Always make sure your questionnaire respects the rights and privacy of participants.

• Explain the purpose of your study
• Get informed consent
• Keep responses anonymous or confidential
• Allow participants to skip questions or withdraw at any time

Final Tips

• Keep your questionnaire short and relevant
• Use a mix of question types where needed
• Always link your questions back to your research question or objectives
• Be culturally and ethically sensitive

Google Forms : A simple and free tool for creating surveys with multiple question types, including Likert scales. Responses are automatically organized in Google Sheets.

Microsoft Forms :Part of the Office 365 suite. Easy to use for short surveys and quizzes. Results can be downloaded and analyzed in Excel.

JotForm:User-friendly drag-and-drop form builder. Includes templates for Likert scales, ratings, and more. Offers a free plan with limited monthly submissions.

SurveyMonkey :A professional survey tool with advanced features like skip logic, data summaries, and graphs. Free plan available with basic limits (10 questions, 40 responses).

KoboToolbox :Designed for researchers working in the field, especially in developing regions. Works offline, supports complex survey types, and is free for academic use.

Typeform :Creates interactive, conversational surveys with a modern interface. Great for participant engagement. Free version available with basic features.

SPSS & R :Powerful statistical tools for analyzing and validating your survey data. Useful for checking reliability (e.g., Cronbach’s Alpha) in Likert scale responses. Best for advanced users.