ABSTRACT

Researchers who wish to ask questions of their participants have to choose the topics of the questions – demographic, behavioural and attitude/opinion/belief or, where required, aspects of health status. They have to choose the format of the questioning – structured, semi-structured or free. In addition, they have to choose the settings for the questioning – face-to-face, self-completed by participants or over the telephone. Once these choices have been made it is necessary to refine the wording of the questions, and choose the order in which they are asked and the layout of the questionnaire. Before the final study is carried out it is essential that a pilot study be conducted. This is particularly important when the researchers have devised the questionnaire.