We know that poorly written survey questions can lead to inaccurate data, cause survey fatigue, and result in non-response.  Kim here, writing again with my first-rate collaborator, Sheila B Robinson. In this post we share two examples of poorly worded survey questions that we have used in our conference presentations, talks, and workshops on survey design. Participants frequently ask us “what are some GOOD survey questions?” So we were especially delighted to find that two organizations responsible for poorly crafted questions updated and improved them. (We can’t help but wonder if someone from one of our workshops clued them in!) 

Have you ever heard that all of your survey questions should use the same rating scale to make it easier for people to respond?  Or that if you include demographic questions, you need to include all possible demographics, and always at the end (or beginning) of the survey? Or that you can only measure one thing in a given survey?  Or that you should avoid open-ended questions entirely? We have too.  (Kim here, writing with co-author, co-facilitator and best survey design thought partner Sheila B Robinson). If any of these sound familiar, or are pieces of advice you’ve taken to heart

Kim here, writing again with my favorite collaborator, Sheila B Robinson. Response rates are everything in survey design. You spend countless hours designing your survey. You work through a design thinking process, getting to know and understand your respondents. You clearly articulate a purpose for the survey and ensure that a survey is indeed the right tool for the job. You carefully craft a set of questions aligned with your research or evaluation questions. Then you launch the survey, only to be disappointed weeks later because out of hundreds of potential respondents, only 22 actually completed the survey. Ugh! The

Earlier this year, I was thrilled to meet Teresa Koberstein, an arts administration consultant putting Designing Quality Survey Questions to use in her practice. Teresa reached out to learn more about the text and how it came to be, and we quickly realized we had at least a couple of research-minded mutual acquaintances in the local arts administration and education communities. We had a great conversation, made plans to stay connected, and I asked Teresa if she would let me share her story via an interview-style blog post. Here is what she shared! Can you tell me more about you