Sailing in unchartered waters: structuring and documenting cross-national questionnaire design

Abstract

In recent years there have been important improvements in many areas of cross-national survey methodology. Yet one of the most central areas, questionnaire design, has received less attention. This article introduces, illustrates and evaluates a questionnaire design and documentation template that aims to better structure and document cross-national questionnaire design, largely unchartered territory to date. The article will demonstrate how the template conceptually structures the process of design, facilitates communication between the multiple actors involved and brings cross-national pretesting findings together into a coherent framework. The ways in which the template makes the measurement aims clear and the design process transparent, are also explored.