Understanding Simple Alternative Questions in a Questionnaire

When designing a questionnaire, different types of questions are used to gather specific information. A common type is the simple alternative question. These questions are designed to get a clear, binary response from the respondent.

What is a Simple Alternative Question?

A simple alternative question presents the respondent with only two possible answer choices. These choices are typically opposite in meaning, offering a clear choice between two alternatives.

• Examples include "Yes or No", "True or False", "Agree or Disagree".
• The purpose is to categorize responses into one of two distinct groups.

Number of Answers for Simple Alternative Questions

By definition, a simple alternative question in a questionnaire must have exactly two possible answers. The term 'alternative' here implies a choice between two options. If there were more than two options, it would be considered a multiple-choice question, not a simple alternative one.

Therefore, for a question structured to offer a simple alternative, such as asking if someone uses a particular service or if they agree with a statement, there must be precisely two predetermined responses provided in the questionnaire for the respondent to choose from.

Let's consider the options provided in the context of a questionnaire:

• Three: This would imply a third option, which is not characteristic of a simple alternative question.
• Two: This perfectly matches the definition of a simple alternative question, which offers a choice between two distinct possibilities.
• No: This is itself a possible answer to a simple alternative question (like "Yes or No"), but it is not the number of answers available.
• Many: This suggests multiple options, which is typical of standard multiple-choice questions or rating scales, but not simple alternative ones in a questionnaire.

Thus, for simple alternative questions used in a questionnaire, the required number of answers is always two, representing the two opposing choices.