How do you test and refine your survey questions and instruments?

1 Define your purpose and audience

Before you start writing your survey questions, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from your data and who you want to reach. Your purpose and audience will guide your choice of survey type, mode, length, language, and content. For example, if you want to measure the satisfaction of your program participants, you might use a Likert scale questionnaire and send it online or by email. If you want to explore the perceptions and experiences of your program staff, you might use an open-ended interview and conduct it in person or by phone.

3 Choose appropriate response options

Another important aspect of testing and refining your survey questions is choosing the appropriate response options for each question. Depending on the type and format of your question, you might use closed-ended or open-ended response options. Closed-ended options are those that provide a fixed set of choices for the respondents, such as yes/no, multiple choice, or rating scales. Open-ended options are those that allow the respondents to express their opinions or experiences in their own words, such as short answer or essay questions. You should choose the response options that best suit the nature and purpose of your question, and that allow you to capture the diversity and richness of your data.

4 Pilot test your survey

Before you launch your survey, you should pilot test it with a small sample of your target population. Pilot testing is a way of checking the validity and reliability of your survey questions and instruments, and identifying any potential problems or errors that might affect your data quality or response rate. You should ask your pilot testers to provide feedback on the clarity, relevance, appropriateness, and difficulty of your questions, as well as the layout, design, and functionality of your instruments. You should also analyze the data collected from your pilot test to see if it meets your expectations and needs.

5 Revise and refine your survey

Based on the feedback and data from your pilot test, you should revise and refine your survey questions and instruments to improve their performance and effectiveness. You should make sure that your questions are clear, relevant, appropriate, and aligned with your evaluation objectives. You should also make sure that your response options are consistent, comprehensive, and balanced. You should also check for any spelling, grammar, or formatting errors that might affect the readability and usability of your instruments. You should also consider the feasibility and cost of administering your survey, and make any adjustments or modifications as needed.

6 Evaluate your survey results

After you have launched your survey and collected your data, you should evaluate your survey results to see if they answer your evaluation questions and inform your program decisions. You should use appropriate methods and tools to analyze and interpret your data, such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, or qualitative analysis. You should also assess the validity and reliability of your data, as well as the strengths and limitations of your survey method. You should also report and communicate your findings and recommendations to your stakeholders and audiences in a clear and meaningful way.