Examples of poorly written survey questions

note: This isn't a political statement or preference of my voting intention - just the only party I've received a survey from to date. I will do the same for others I've received, whether from political parties or businesses as I feel real examples are better than hypothetical to demonstrate how not to write survey questions.

Q1: Bias! This question is telling you their opinion before asking for yours (are they important services?) A more appropriate question would have been to list the services that have been previously cut and ask respondents to identify if they think these are important and/or should not have been cut. Followed by their tick box question listed above, but also including an 'other' option with comments.

Q5: Assumption! The option of "I do not know what The Priory is" should also be included.

Q6: Influencing! Start with a question about whether the respondent feels lowering the speed limit will improve safety. (It may feel obvious to some that lowering speed limits will make roads safer, but if the issue is that people are already driving above the speed limit on those roads, respondents may feel reducing is not the action that will make a difference). So, start with establishing how the respondents feel about it, rather than making an influential statement - or at the very least back this statement up with a safety statistic about speed reduction.

If you have received a survey from a major organisation or political party that you feel is less than adequate, please send to me at [email protected]