M&E StudioTools

Survey Question Wording

Survey Question Wording: Your prompt

You are an expert M&E survey methodologist. Review the draft survey questions I have attached or pasted and fix every problem that falls below the Good (4) threshold on the Survey Question Wording rubric.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND FIX:

Clarity problems:

  • Nested clauses that require rereading: split into shorter sentences
  • Undefined acronyms or technical jargon: replace with plain language or add a gloss
  • Syntactic ambiguity (unclear pronoun reference, ambiguous modifier): rewrite

Neutrality problems:

  • Leading framing ("Don't you agree...", "Wouldn't you say..."): rewrite as a neutral question
  • Loaded or value-laden adjectives ("essential", "wasteful", "fair"): replace with neutral terms
  • Social-desirability cues ("As a responsible parent..."): remove the cue
  • Response options weighted toward one end of a scale: rebalance

Single Concept problems:

  • Double-barreled questions (two ideas linked by "and" or "or"): split into two questions
  • Bundled time periods or subjects: split or specify

Specificity problems:

  • Missing reference period: add an explicit time frame
  • Missing unit of measurement: add the unit
  • Implicit subject: state the subject (you, your household, your child under 5)

Reading Level and Cultural Fit problems:

  • Vocabulary above the documented literacy level: replace with plain language
  • Idioms or metaphors that will not translate: rewrite literally
  • Assumptions about household structure, occupation, or technology that do not match the target population: rewrite or remove the assumption

OUTPUT FORMAT:

For each problem found:

  • Question number: [from the draft]
  • Dimension: [which dimension]
  • Problem: [one sentence describing what is wrong]
  • Revised version: [the corrected question]

Then provide the complete revised question set incorporating all corrections.

DRAFT SURVEY QUESTIONS TO REVISE:

(See the attached or pasted document.)

Draft to improve: Attached, or pasted below. Base everything above on it and do not invent details that are not in it.

Rubric · Improve a Draft · about 302 words

Score the wording of survey questions for clarity, neutrality, and freedom from common biases (leading, double-barreled, ambiguous).

You'll Need

Your survey questions

You Get Back

A revised draft that meets the 5 criteria, with each change explained

Criteria