This activity will help you to …
• Consider factors that affect the validity of questionnaire data
• Identify and improve poor questionnaire design
Ask a silly question …
Professor Corbin put together a questionnaire to assess students’ attitudes towards drinking alcohol and
underage drinking. He decided to collect data from a sample of 14 – 18 year old students. The
questionnaire was drafted in a hurry, and he didn’t have time to think properly. Consequently, it is unlikely
the survey he developed will elicit valid data. Take a careful look at Professor Corbin’s questionnaire design
and highlight the problem areas.
Identify some flaws with the questionnaire and explain how they might affect the validity of the data.
• How could the questionnaire be redesigned to avoid the problems you have identified?
• How might a pilot study have helped Professor Corbin to improve the design of his questionnaire?
Underage Drinking Questionnaire
Name: ___________________________
Address: ________________________________________
Age: _ Sex: _
How often do you drink alcohol?
How much do you drink a week?
Do you binge drink? Yes No
Why do you drink alcohol?
- It’s fun to get drunk
- All of my friends do it
- It makes me confident
- Other
Do you understand the health risks of drinking and why do you still do it?