Research Tips

Branch Questions and Skip Patterns

Frequently, surveys include questions that apply to some respondents, but not to others depending on how previous questions were answered. In mail surveys, this is done using a written instruction (e.g., “if ‘no’, please go to question 6”). In phone surveys, the interviewer (often aided by software) only asks the questions that are applicable, so the respondent never sees the other questions. Similarly, Web surveys can use programming to ensure that the appropriate questions are asked based on responses to previous questions.

Regardless of the data collection method used, it’s important to check the accuracy of branches and skip patterns (the terms used to describe respondents being sent to different questions depending on their answers to previous questions) before administering a survey. If these are inaccurately specified (so that a person is asked a question that does not apply to them), it can be confusing to respondents and threaten the validity of the data collected.