How can you use closed-ended questions for quick and accurate responses in your research?

2 Types of closed-ended questions

Closed-ended questions can be classified into different types based on the format and purpose of the answers. Dichotomous questions, for example, provide only two possible answers, which are useful for measuring binary or categorical variables, such as behavior or preference. Multiple choice questions offer more than two possible answers, and are suitable for measuring nominal or ordinal variables, such as demographics or opinions. Rating scale questions have a range of numerical or verbal values that represent different levels of intensity, frequency, or quality; they are useful for measuring interval or ratio variables, such as attitudes or perceptions. Lastly, ranking questions involve a list of items that need to be ordered according to a certain criterion; they are useful for measuring relative or comparative variables, such as priorities or expectations.

3 Best practices for closed-ended questions

Designing effective closed-ended questions requires following some best practices to avoid bias, confusion, and ambiguity. Firstly, you should define your research objectives and hypothesis, and align your questions with them. Additionally, use simple and clear language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, or technical terms. Furthermore, ensure mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive answer options, avoiding overlapping or missing categories. Moreover, make sure answer options are balanced and neutral, avoiding leading or loaded words. Additionally, use consistent and appropriate answer formats, avoiding mixing scales or labels. Finally, use skip logic and branching to tailor your questions to the respondents' answers, avoiding irrelevant or redundant questions.