People often want to create and design their own mini surveys or questionnaires. Sometimes it is to get input and opinions from customers or employees. Often it is about designing a customized 360 degree assessment. I know because I get lots of questions about it.
I usually try to discourage people with these types of comments:
- What you measure is what you get.
- Garbage in garbage out.
- The cost of validating is prohibitive.
- Words are open to various interpretations.
- Questions often mix apples and oranges.
- You might end up opening a can of worms.
The purpose of any questionnaire is to seek clarification which leads to greater understanding. From this understanding (and hopefully common ground) actions for suitable change can be identified and implemented. Poor design and working can and will have the opposite effect.
Want to see a perfect example of what not to do?
Image via Wikipedia
McLeans Magazine has just managed singularly to do just that in their recent online survey by falling into all of the traps I have outlined above. Perhaps it is to stimulate discussion but clearly it is not particularly helpful. I can see some poor writer dreaming up this survey to improve readership.
Mcleans claims to be Canada's only national weekly current affairs magazine - only showing that we need to be doing a better job tn what McLeans is doing. Judge for yourself.
Is Canada shirking its international obligations when it comes to climate change?
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