The closed-ended questions formats: The nature, validity and reliability of their responses

Teresa Garcia-Marques, Rui Bártolo-Ribeiro

Abstract


This paper aims to support researchers in the decisions about the use of closed answer questions in
their questionnaires by critically reviewing the literature regarding the implications of such decisions
for the nature, validity and reliability of the measure. This literature’s review provides arguments for
the researcher to decide on how best to operationalize their variables through a closed response.
Arguments presented support decision-making in the construction of response options to be provided
to the respondent, and the type of scale to be used: graphical or non-graphical; categories or continuous
assessment; with 3 or more points; with or without labels and in this case, with what kind of labels,
etc. Other topics are illustrated to be considered for construction of a response scale analyzing the
specific case in which “perceived frequencies” are measured.

Keywords


Assessment scales, Questionnaires, Bias.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.1659

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