1. Questionnaire administration

2. Available at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-700-8
Based on EHES Manual, Part A. Planning and preparation of the survey, 2nd edition (2016)
Available at:
These slides can be used freely, translated and adapted to national use (e.g. concerning the questionnaire administration mode).

3. Modes of questionnaire administration
Similar basic principles applied for
Checking self-administered questionnaires
Interviewing

4. Starting the interview
Explain that all information is strictly confidential and all answers are valuable to obtain reliable and valid results from the survey
Explain the possibility to stop the interview at any time and right to refuse answering any question
Read all questions and response categories exactly as they are written
If needed, repeat the question first, before giving additional information

5. Basic principles
Don’ t comment the responses or express any criticism (e.g. regarding participant’s lifestyles)
If needed, the question and the answer alternatives can be clarified by giving additional information in a standardized and non-directive way
Always check the interviewer instructions and, if needed, contact your supervisor
Do not try to interpret the question yourself and develop additional explanation
Record ‘refusal’ or ‘Don’t know’ if needed, but try to avoid these

6. Subjective items
Questions that measure the person’s own assessment (e.g. self perceived health) should not be interpreted or assessed by anyone else
You or any other person who is present during the interview or while filling in and checking the questionnaires (e.g. a family member), should not affect the participant’s choice of the answer categories

7. Objective items
Questions on facts, e.g. having diseases diagnosed by a doctor and using medicines, can be asked from a proxy (e.g. a family member or care taker), when the participant him/herself is unable to answer due to cognitive impairment

8. Interviewing process
Follow the order of the questions in the questionnaire
Record answers carefully and so that the participant doesn’t focus on observing what you are writing
Keep active contact with the participant

9. Pausing or stopping the interview
Stop the interview if
the participant loses ability to concentrate (e.g. is very tired or intoxicated)
there are severe problems in the participant’s cognitive or communication skills
Explore the possibility to continue later, e.g. with proxy assistance

10. Checking self-administered questionnaires
Empty, unanswered questions: help the participant when needed
If the participant has marked several answer categories, when one should be chosen, ask which option applies most or corresponds best in his/her situation
Correct if jump rules have not been followed: check the correct answers with the participant

11. Closing
Give positive feedback to the participant: ”Thank you for this valuable information…” Record if proxy (or proxy assistance) was used Record and report to your supervisor any problems encountered during the interview or when checking the questionnaires, e.g. problems in communication, disturbing presence of other persons

12. Acknowledgements Slides prepared by: Päivikki Koponen
Photographs by: Hanna Tolonen
Demonstration by Saara Vallivaara, Shadia Rask and voluntary participants
Experiences and feedback from the EHES network have been utilized in the preparation of these slides
Funding: Preparation of the slides is part of the activities of the EHES Coordinating Centre which has received funding from the EC/DG SANTÉ in through SANCO/2008/C2/02-SI EHES and Grand Agreement number , and in through Grand Agreement number /BRIDGE Health

13. Disclaimer
The views expressed here are those of the authors and they do not represent the Commission’s official position.