Glossary term
Questionnaire: Meaning and Definition
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Anamika ShrivastavaPublished Last updated
A questionnaire is a set of questions, arranged in a planned order, that is given to respondents to gather primary data. A good questionnaire has short, clear, neutral questions and options that do not overlap. It is tested on a small group in a pilot survey before the main survey begins.
In more detail
The order of questions matters: easy questions come first and sensitive ones later. Open questions let respondents write answers freely; closed questions offer fixed options, which are easier to tabulate. A questionnaire sent by post needs a covering letter that explains the purpose, and a promise to keep answers confidential.
Example
A survey of household water use asks, “How many people live in your household?” and “How many litres do you use on a typical day?”, with answer boxes.
Key points
- Questions should be simple and unbiased.
- Avoid leading and double-barrelled questions.
- A pilot survey finds faults early.
Common mistake
Writing leading questions that suggest the answer.
Related terms
Where it is explained
This term is explained in Class 11 Statistics Chapter 2: Collection of Data.