How to Design a Research Questionnaire (Likert Scale Guide)

Your questionnaire decides the quality of your data. A well-designed form is short, clear, measures each variable properly and exports cleanly into SPSS.

1. Start from your variables

List every variable in your conceptual framework. For each one, find a validated scale used in published research (search “[variable] scale” or check the method sections of related papers). Adapting existing scales is better than writing your own items, because their reliability and validity are already tested.

2. Adapt, don’t copy blindly

Change wording only to fit your context (e.g. “employees” → “teachers”). Keep the meaning, keep the response format consistent, and cite the original authors in Chapter 3.

3. Writing good items

• One idea per item — avoid “The training was useful and interesting.”
• Avoid negatives and double negatives where possible.
• Use simple words your respondents understand.
• Avoid leading questions (“Don’t you agree that…”).

4. Choosing the Likert scale

The 5-point scale (Strongly disagree → Strongly agree) is the most common and easy for respondents. A 7-point scale gives more detail. Use the same format across the questionnaire when you can, and keep labels identical.

5. Structure of the questionnaire

1. Short introduction: purpose, time needed, confidentiality, voluntary participation.
2. Consent statement.
3. Section A: demographics (keep only what you will analyse).
4. Sections B, C, D…: one section per variable.
5. Thank-you note.

6. Length

Aim for 10–15 minutes. Long forms cause tired, careless answers. Usually 3–7 items per construct is enough.

7. Translation

If respondents are more comfortable in Urdu, translate carefully and ideally back-translate (another person translates it back to English) to check meaning.

8. Pilot test

Give the form to 20–30 people similar to your sample. Check confusing items, completion time and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha). Fix problems before the main data collection.

Google Forms tips

• Use “Multiple choice grid” for Likert sections, and make items required.
• Use sections so the form feels shorter on mobile.
• Export responses to Google Sheets, then code them (1–5) for SPSS.

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