questionar

A questionar is a compact, adaptive survey instrument designed to collect structured data from respondents through a predefined set of items, with support for branching, validation, and real-time analysis. It blends features of traditional questionnaires with modern digital techniques to tailor question sequences to individual responses.

Origin and usage: The term is a neologism combining 'question' and a suffix suggesting an instrument. It is not a widely standardized term in mainstream survey methodology, and in practice some uses may refer to adaptive questionnaires or digital forms.

Design and content: A questionar consists of items (questions) with defined response formats (multiple choice, Likert scales, numeric, open text). Each item may have metadata such as domain, weight, and required status. Branching logic guides which items appear next; validation rules ensure response formats and ranges; accessibility considerations are built in.

Implementation: Questionars can be delivered as web forms, mobile apps, or integrated into enterprise data systems. They may be defined in a schema (for example JSON or XML-based) and stored in databases with versioning. Data privacy, informed consent, and audit trails are important.

Applications: Market research, customer satisfaction, education, healthcare screening, and public policy evaluation frequently employ questionars to gather modular, responsive data.

Advantages and limitations: Adaptive sequencing can reduce respondent burden and improve completion rates, while increasing design complexity. Reliability and validity require careful item construction and testing. Bias, nonresponse, and privacy concerns remain challenges.

See also: Questionnaire, Survey methodology, Adaptive testing.