Questionnaires are vital for the market researcher: they draw accurate information from respondents; give structure to interviews; provide a standard form on which facts, comments and attitudes can be recorded; and facilitate data processing.
Questionnaire Design explains the role of questionnaires in market research, and looks at different types of questionnaire and when and how they should be used. It explains how to plan, structure and compose the right questionnaire for the research you are running. Contents include:
objectives in writing questionnaires
differences between data collection media
planning your questionnaire
writing the questions
types of question
using prompt material
layout
piloting
ethical issues
social desirability bias and how to avoid it
issues in multi-national surveys
Part of the new Market Research in Practice series, published in association with The Market Research Society (MRS), Questionnaire Design is an invaluable guide for anyone studying or practising market research. Packed with expert advice, it also includes examples of the most common errors and how to avoid them.
Ian Brace is director of research methods at TNS UK. He has been a market researcher for over 30 years, during which time he worked for MAS Survey Research, NOP, Esso Petroleum, BJM Research and NFO WorldGroup.
Ian Brace is a visiting fellow in market research at Bristol Business School, and currently a member of the council of the Market Research Society and deputy chair of the Market Research Standards Board. He is the author of Questionnaire Design, and co-author of An Introduction to Market & Social Research, also published by Kogan Page.