Questionnaire construction principles – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and C set out accepted principles of questionnaire construction: alignment with objectives, avoidance of double-barrelled wording and a clear, logical layout. Statement D is false because leading questions bias responses and threaten validity, and E is false since questionnaires often combine closed and open-ended items. Thus, the combination including A, B and C, and excluding D and E, is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it does not include C, leaving out the importance of layout and sequencing for respondent comprehension and data quality. A and B alone do not cover all major design concerns.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits A, failing to stress that each item should relate directly to the study’s objectives, which is fundamental for content validity.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it incorporates E, which incorrectly demands that all items be open-ended, and omits B, which correctly warns against double-barrelled questions. This mix of omission and error makes the option invalid.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it gathers the three statements that reflect good practice while rejecting D and E, which promote bias and an unnecessarily restrictive view of question format.