During my research on questionnaire design, I have come across the following resources that were quite useful:
Structure and phrasing:
- Clarity and conciseness: Keep questions clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures. Aim for short, direct questions that students can answer quickly and thoughtfully.
- Balance closed-ended and open-ended questions: Use a mix of closed-ended (multiple choice, Likert scale) and open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions provide quantitative data for analysis, while open-ended questions allow students to elaborate on their thoughts and experiences, offering rich qualitative data.
- Neutral and unbiased language: Avoid leading questions or phrasing that suggests a desired answer. Maintain a neutral tone to encourage honest and impartial responses.
Content and scope:
- Focus on key areas: Target the survey questions on specific aspects of the personal tutorial experience, like frequency and duration of meetings, tutor communication and accessibility, helpfulness of feedback, and impact on academic performance and transition.
- Consider different perspectives: Include questions that explore both the positive and negative aspects of the tutorials. Ask about what worked well, what could be improved, and what suggestions students have for the future.
- Personalization and relevance: Consider segmenting the survey to gather feedback from different groups of students based on their program of study, tutor characteristics, or any other relevant factors. This can provide more nuanced and targeted insights.
Examples of effective questions:
- Closed-ended:
- On a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), how satisfied are you with the frequency of your personal tutorials?
- How accessible did you find your tutor for scheduling meetings and seeking guidance?
- To what extent did the feedback you received from your tutor help you improve your academic performance?
- Open-ended:
- Describe what you found most helpful about your personal tutorials with your tutor.
- Are there any areas where you feel the personal tutorial program could be improved?
- What suggestions do you have for making personal tutorials even more beneficial for future first-year students?
Additional tips:
- Pilot test the survey: Before launching the survey, test it with a small group of students to identify any confusing or unclear questions.
- Keep it short and engaging: Limit the survey length to maintain student attention and avoid fatigue. Use engaging language and avoid asking repetitive questions.
- Offer anonymity and confidentiality: Assure students that their responses will be anonymous and kept confidential to encourage honest participation.
- Communicate the purpose and feedback process: Explain the purpose of the survey and how the feedback will be used to improve the program. This shows students that their opinions matter.