The translation of a research question into an effectively crafted item on a questionnaire can be a challenging task. Part of that process involves selecting the right question format and ensuring that the question format is being used properly. Though not a comprehensive review of the topic, the following information will provide some guidance in question formatting.
Choosing open-ended over closed-ended
Do you want your respondents to convey their sentiments in their own words, or would you prefer they choose from words you supply for them?
Types of response scales
Are you concerned with issues that relate to the attitudes of your respondents (agreement, satisfaction, etc.)? Scaled close-ended questions are designed specifically with this in mind, allowing you to ask your respondents to place themselves or their opinion on a continuum of your choosing.
Creating multiple choice questions
Designed to allow respondents to pick an option out of a range of options, multiple choice questions can be used to gather information on diverse topics. This question format is applicable to choices with as few as two options and as many as the researcher deems sufficient.