Questionnaire Design

Core Principles in Mental Health Research

• Learning Outcomes: Students should understand self-report scales/questionnaires, how to write effective questions, and how to pilot questionnaires.

Questionnaire Design

• What are questionnaires and scales?: Questionnaires collect information in a standardized way, while scales measure specific constructs (e.g., behaviours, attitudes).
• Why use fixed-response scales and questionnaires?: They offer a more objective assessment, are consistent, and can be administered in various ways (mailed, online, in-person). But could also be considered constraining.
• What are scales used for?: Scales help with diagnosis, measuring psychological processes, outcome evaluation, and overcoming communication problems (e.g., visual analog scales).

Formats and Administration

• Formats: Questionnaires can be self-report, interviewer-administered, or information-based.
• Administration: Information-based questionnaires can be completed by someone closely associated with the participant. Both paper-based and online questionnaires are options.

Developing Your Own Measure

• Developing your own measure?: Often not recommended as existing measures exist. Existing measures should be validated and used when available.

Development Process

• Identify constructs to be measured: A literature review is essential to find existing measures and to clearly define the scope of the construct.
• Literature review: Check if existing validated questionnaires or scales already measure the concept.
• Stakeholder inputs: Gather input from relevant stakeholders (e.g., service users, clinicians) to ensure the questionnaire is relevant and understandable to the target group.

Key Considerations

• Coverage: Ensure the questionnaire addresses all important aspects of the construct.
• Clarity and Precision: Use clear and precise language. Avoid ambiguity—meaningful to all readers.
• Stigma and Relevance: Consider the impact of labels and ensure the questionnaire is culturally relevant and sensitive.

Questionnaire Design Considerations

• Objectivity vs. Subjectivity: Some questions are inherently subjective making objective assessment and measurement challenging.
• Neutrality: Avoid questions with implicit premises that might influence responses, for instance using value judgements.
• Clarity and Precision: Questions should be understandable to a variety of individuals. Avoid psychological jargon.
• Question Format: Using open and closed-ended questions enables qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Question Format Examples: examples of open/closed questions are provided.
• Framing and Induction: Consider the framing and introductory statements that guide participants through the survey.

Group Exercise Considerations

• Example exercises highlighting common concerns with questionnaire formats.

Response Format

• Different types of responses: Use various response formats. e.g., Likert scales, Visual Analogue scales, Yes/No, Qualitative open questions, quantitative responses

Piloting

• Importance of piloting: Test the questionnaire on a representative sample to identify problems and improve clarity.
• Content Validity & Reliability: Check how easy the questions are to understand and answer.
• Pilot stages & considerations: Ensure clarity, appropriateness of questions and response options, time required for completion