Unit 11: Assignment #2

• To get a basic introduction to writing survey items, read Science Buddies' (no date) article, "Designing a Survey."https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/ScienceBuddies_SurveyHowTo_NoDate.pdfThis article provides a basic introduction; if you already have some experience writing survey items, you may skim (though not skip) this article.
• To become more informed about writing survey items:
  • First, read Beretta's (2014) article, "Top Ten Common Problems in Designing Effective Survey Questions."https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/Beretta_Satrix_2014.pdfMake sure you understand all ten problems Beretta describes - and you know how to avoid all ten problems.
  • Second, read Pew Research Center's (no date) article, "Questionnaire Design."https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/Pew_SurveyDesign_NoDate.pdf Make sure you understand
    • open- versus closed-ended questions (the latter are what Science Buddies refers to as 'structured questions');
    • the importance of asking questions that are clear and well-specified;
    • whatdouble-barreled questions anddouble-negatives are (and how to avoid them);
    • whatacquiescence bias andsocial desirability bias are (and how to avoid them);
    • factors to consider in ordering your questions; and
    • the importance ofplacing demographic items last.
  • Third, to appreciate the power of wording, look at Britain Elects' (2017)pair of tweets.https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/BritainElects_Tweet_2017.pdf
  • Fourth, to appreciate the importance of includingthe least number of survey items possible, look at cognitive psychologist,J. P. de Ruiter's (2018) tweet.https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/deRuiter_AirlineSatisfactionSurvey_Twitter_2018.pdf
  • Fifth, read Harvard University's Program on Survey Research (2007) "Tip Sheet on Question Wording." https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/HarvardPSR_TipSheet_2007.pdfMake sure you understand
    • how toavoid technical jargon, vague or imprecise terms;
    • how toavoid double-barreled questions (again!);
    • how toavoid leading, emotional, or evocative language; and
    • how touse ordinal scales, reference frames, and unique answer choices that cover all response options.
  • Sixth, read Peters' (no date) article, "How to Design a Survey https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/Peters_Zapier_NoDate-a.pdf ." Make sure you understand the differences between
    • categorical (also known as nominal) and
    • ordinal survey items (and survey responses).
• Make a teaching document that captures ALL the information you learned in steps a. and b. above.
  • Youraudience for your teaching document needs to be either other college students or people in industry (not psychological scientists).
  • Yourmedium for your teaching document needs to be either a PPT or an Infographic.

• Test the size of your PDF usingthis handout. https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-CourseMaterials/PSY-225_Gernsbacher_FileSize_Canvas_Handout.pdf If your PDF is too large, reduce its size usingthis handout.https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-CourseMaterials/PSY-225_Gernsbacher_FileSize_Canvas_Handout.pdf
• Test yourself on Professor Rennison's (no date), "Examples of Bad Questions & How to Fix Them."https://online225.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/225-Master/225-UnitPages/Unit-11/Rennison_SurveyItems_NoDate.pdf
• Go to theUnit 11: Assignment #2 Discussion Board and make a new post in which you do the following:
  • First, attach your teaching document;
  • Second, tell us the intended audience of your teaching document and why you chose that intended audience; and
  • Third, tell us how well you did identifying the examples of bad questions and fixing them (on Professor Rennison's quiz).