Survey methods covers the broad approach where data is being collected by some paper-and pencil method. Although this now includes on-line data collection using tools similar to the paper-and-pencil tools.

Broadly, we tend to talk about surveys in terms of the amount of structure in the questions:

structured
semi-structured
unstructured

The extent to which your questions involve rating or ranking scales or they involve open-ended questions determines whether the survey might be called structured or unstructured.

Question types and Question writing

One of the great falacies in educational and social research is that anyone can write questions for surveys. Question writing requires training and practice.

Structured questions

We will see any question that has a set of defined response alternatives as a structured question. This includes multiple choice format, scaling formats (Likert), biopolar formats etc..

The keys to a good structured question include:

It asks a single question

It is unambiguous in the way it is written

Its language level reflects that of the target audience

The response scale relates directly to the question

Unstructured questions

Unstructured questions tend to what we call an open ended question. That is, a question where the response is defined by the person answering not by the question. The question gives the topic but the respondent can react to this in an open way.

Lets say you want to ask what a participant in the workshop thought about that workshop. A good open format would:

Can you tell me what you got out of the workshop?

A less open version would be:

What were the good things about the workshop?

And a closed version would be:

Do you think that this was an effective workshop?

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