Crafting thoughtful screener questions involves asking the right mix of general and specific questions while avoiding bias and misleading answers. These questions help you identify individuals who align with your target audience while filtering out those who may not provide the most relevant feedback.
In this article, we will explore best practices for writing questions so that you can find participants which are the best fit for your research needs.
Advice on Writing Screener Questions
Use Simple, Everyday Language
Clear, direct language helps participants understand what’s being asked of them.
Ask Specific Questions
Specificity helps gather actionable insights.
Before: Do you regularly shop online?
After: How often, on average, do you shop for clothes online?
Start Broad, Then Narrow Down
Begin with general questions before getting more specific, guiding the participant to provide more targeted information.
Specify How Many Answers Can Be Selected
Let participants know whether they can select multiple answers or just one.
Use Fake Answers to Screen Out Dishonest Participants
Include fake answers in multiple-choice questions to identify those who aren’t paying attention.
Keep the Number of Screener Questions Manageable
Too many screener questions can overwhelm participants. Aim for 2-6 questions.
Avoid Easily Guessed Questions
Prevent participants from guessing the “correct” answers by avoiding leading questions.
Before: Are you a fan of the brand Apple?
After: Which brands of smartphones do you prefer?
Don’t Ask for Personal Information Early
Questions that ask for personal information should be saved for later in the screener to build trust.
Avoid Branding
Refrain from mentioning specific brands to avoid bias in the responses, whenever possible.
Avoid Yes/No Questions
Encourage richer responses by asking open-ended questions.
Before: Have you bought a cellphone in the last 3 months?
After: What tech gadgets have you purchased in the last 3 months?
Avoid Leading Questions
Ensure questions remain neutral to avoid skewing responses.
Before: How much do you like watching TV?
After: Which of the following activities are you interested in?
Following these practices should allow you to collect data from a relevant audience, ultimately leading to insights that will better inform product decisions and improvements.