Survey Question Tip #1 - Ask one question at a time

Writing a good survey question is not as easy as it seems. Using the wrong word or asking the question in the wrong way can negatively impact the quality and value of the data you collect. This post is the first in a series that will offer tips on how to write effective survey questions.

​​Tip #1:  Ask one question at a time
Each question on a survey should only express one idea. When more than one idea is presented in a question, this is referred to as a 'double-barreled' question. Double-barreled questions are problematic because they can confuse respondents and introduce unnecessary error into your data. Consider the following example:

Are you satisfied with your pay and benefits?
(a) Yes 
(b) No  

Here, the respondent is asked to answer two separate questions: whether they are satisfied with: 1) pay and 2) benefits. However, only one answer can be provided. To avoid confusion, split questions that contain more than one idea into separate items:

Are you satisfied with the following aspects of your job?

Pay
(a) Yes 
(b) No  

​Benefits
(a) Yes 
(b) No  

Look for the words 'and' and 'or' as a signal that a question may be double-barreled. Remember, a good survey question is one that expresses a single, specific idea.

**Special thanks to Heather Wright for editing this post**