Designing Questions for an Interview or Survey

Submit either a one- to three-page questionnaire or questions for a 20- to 30-minute interview AND the information listed below for the method you choose.

Questionnaire

1. Purpose(s), goal(s)

2. Subjects (who, why, how many)

3. How and where to be distributed

4. Rationale for order of questions, kinds of questions, wording of questions

Interview

1. Purpose(s), goal(s)

2. Subject (who and why)

3. Proposed site, length of interview

4. Rationale for order of questions, kinds of questions, wording of questions, choice of branching or follow-up questions

As Your Instructor Directs,

a. Create questions for a survey on one of the following topics:

Survey students on your campus about their knowledge of and interest in the programs and activities sponsored by a student organization.

Survey workers at a company about what they like and dislike about their jobs.

Survey people in your community about their willingness to pay more to buy products using recycled materials and to buy products that are packaged with a minimum of waste.

Survey students and faculty on your campus about whether adequate parking exists.

Survey two groups on a topic that interests you.

b. Create questions for an interview on one of the following topics:

Interview an international student about the form of greetings and farewells, topics of small talk, forms of politeness, festivals and holidays, meals at home, size of families, and roles of family members in his or her county.

Interview the owner of a small business about the problems the business has, what strategies the owner has already used to increase sales and profits and how successful these strategies were, and the owners attitudes toward possible changes in product line, decor, marketing, hiring, advertising, and money management.

Interview someone who has information you need for a report youre writing.