Make the scale of who are the respondents (Ask people with direct experience)

Questions should be easy to read

Tell respondents clearly question type

given enough answer options

Ask closed questions

-consistent visual layout of the questionnaire

-Place sensitive items later in the questionnaire

-Ask the more important items earlier in the questionnaire so they dont skip them

-Phrase questions with positive language

-Word items as questions rather than statements and avoid 'agree-disagree' response options

3. Do not ask leading questions. Make sure people are free to give their own, honest answer.

It’s crucial to clearly inform participants about the purpose of your questionnaire, how their data will be used, stored, and protected, and secure their consent before proceeding. Ethical compliance (e.g., through ethics approval and data protection protocols) maintains integrity and builds trust with respondents.

2. Phrase items clearly and simply—one concept per question-

Items should be concise and easy to understand, avoiding technical jargon, double barrelled phrasing, negatives, or assumptions. Each question should focus on a single idea, ensuring respondents aren't confused or inadvertently influencing the outcome .

3. Guarantee exhaustive, mutually exclusive response options-

For close-ended items, the answer choices must cover all possible responses (e.g. with an “Other, please specify” option) and not overlap. This helps avoid bias and ensures accurate, analyzable data.