Each student in the Health Research and Immersion summer program through Texas A&M University must design their own research question, survey instruments, perform the investigation, analyze their results and present on their findings. Now that they have their research questions formulated and their variables identified and defined, it was time to develop questions for their surveys.
Making good survey questions is no trivial task, as one has to capture a person's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about particular variables to analyze their research question. Which questions should be left open ended? Which should be selected response, without limiting or biasing a person's answer? Can you accurately quantify a person's attitude with scales and rankings? Is self-reporting reliable for behaviors, and how can you best conduct observations?
Among these many questions that were going through each student's head, they couldn't forget to make sure the order of questions is reasonable and poses a natural conversational flow, minimize vagueness and bias, and allowing room for those uncertain how to respond and not forcing answers.
I helped them adapt their surveys so that their questions would be clear and understandable in the Dominican culture and language and offer room for all possible responses. I also helped in making questions trying to capture attitudes more quantifiable.
Now their interviews with community members and experts begin! I am excited to witness the progression of their projects, but, more importantly, their ability to gather research and communicate in a different cultural context and build confidence in pursuing health research.
Making good survey questions is no trivial task, as one has to capture a person's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about particular variables to analyze their research question. Which questions should be left open ended? Which should be selected response, without limiting or biasing a person's answer? Can you accurately quantify a person's attitude with scales and rankings? Is self-reporting reliable for behaviors, and how can you best conduct observations?
Among these many questions that were going through each student's head, they couldn't forget to make sure the order of questions is reasonable and poses a natural conversational flow, minimize vagueness and bias, and allowing room for those uncertain how to respond and not forcing answers.
I helped them adapt their surveys so that their questions would be clear and understandable in the Dominican culture and language and offer room for all possible responses. I also helped in making questions trying to capture attitudes more quantifiable.
Now their interviews with community members and experts begin! I am excited to witness the progression of their projects, but, more importantly, their ability to gather research and communicate in a different cultural context and build confidence in pursuing health research.