Teacher Effectiveness Survey - Formulating Neutral Questions

Source

Our Lunch N' Learn was designed toward analyzing data received from students after they completed our "Teacher Effectiveness Survey".  Some teachers have inquired as to "What makes a good question?"

To answer this, I asked our high school stats teacher, Mr. Martinson, to provide some examples as to what makes a valid question.  In his course work, students are instructed to always collect valid data and analyze it. He sheds some light on specific examples that could be included on a survey.


- Questions should be neutral, meaning they don't encourage a particular response. 

Example: 

Neutral:   How does today's lesson compare to yesterday"s? 

Leading:  Didn't you like today's lesson better than yesterday"s?

Neutral: How does the use of technology affect your learning?

Leading: Many students feel technology helps them engage in their learning. How do you feel about technology?

- Avoid terms all students may not understand. 

  example: use the terms tests, quizzes, instead of formal assessment.

 

- Questions should have as many good options as bad options. 

  example: strongly disagree,disagree,agree, strongly agree

- People will often pick the middle if given an odd number of option (if providing an even number of options you can avoid this)

- Make sure every possible response has a place and that options are 

mutually exclusive (response should fall in one category, not more than one)