To avoid having respondents select the middle choice to quickly complete a multiple-choice questionnaire, which is the best number of answer choices?

3 3 4 4 5 5 7

The best number of answer choices to avoid the tendency of selecting the middle choice quickly is an odd number of options. This would eliminate the possibility of a "middle" choice and encourage respondents to think more critically about their selection. Therefore, options 3, 5, and 7 would be better choices.

To avoid having respondents select the middle choice to quickly complete a multiple-choice questionnaire, which is the best number of answer choices?

3

4
5

7

To avoid having respondents select the middle choice too quickly, the best number of answer choices would be an odd number. This eliminates the possibility of a definite middle choice and encourages respondents to give more thought to their selection. Therefore, the best options to choose from in this case would be 3, 5, or 7 answer choices.

Which of the following is an advantage of a free-response question? (1 point)

Results are easily combined. Results are easily combined.
More information is possible. More information is possible.
Less time is needed to administe

The advantage of a free-response question is that more information is possible. This allows respondents to provide detailed and personalized responses, offering insights and perspectives that may not be captured by pre-defined answer choices.

To avoid having respondents select the middle choice too quickly, it is recommended to have an odd number of answer choices. This removes the possibility of a true middle option. Among the options you provided, the best number of answer choices would be 5.

To determine the best number of answer choices for a multiple-choice questionnaire, we need to consider a few factors:

1. Clarity and simplicity: The number of answer choices should be sufficient to cover all possible options without overwhelming the respondents. If there are too few options, the questionnaire may lack precision, and if there are too many options, it might confuse the respondents.

2. Balanced response distribution: To avoid the issue of respondents selecting the middle choice just to quickly complete the questionnaire (also known as "acquiescence bias" or "yea-saying"), we need to aim for a balanced response distribution. This means having an equal number of positive and negative options or an equal number of options on either side of the neutral choice.

Considering these factors, it is recommended to have an odd number of answer choices. This prevents the possibility of a true "middle" choice and forces respondents to make a clear decision. Based on the given options, the best number of answer choices would be 3, 5, or 7.

The choice between these options ultimately depends on the specific requirements of the questionnaire, the complexity of the topic, and the desired level of granularity in the responses. Less complex questionnaires might benefit from fewer options (3 or 5), whereas more detailed or nuanced questionnaires might require a larger number of choices (7).

Ultimately, piloting the questionnaire with a small group of respondents and analyzing their feedback can help determine the most suitable number of answer choices.