So i have decided to follow my instinct and not the advice i have been given. Living dangerously. I reread the interviews I have transcribed so far and that has - maybe - helped me write questions that will give me the info I want. And i have put the Purpose questions right up front. The advice i received said start with the easy factual questions (Like "are you in any other fellowship alumni schemes?") but what i don't like about that is I think it makes your mind start thinking in a certain way. And I want to start with the Big Picture - WHAT IS THIS ALUMNI THING FOR? Not whether or not it will have face-to-face meetings or a blog roll? Starting the questionnaire with reference to other programs, closes down the options. Same thing about multichoice questions. One pilot fellow asked whether it wouldn't be easier if i had multi choice questions (seminars, website, etc.) but what i don't like about that is that if someone says do you want these things you are likely to say "oh yes, that would be great! I'll take the lot" Whereas i want to see what the fellows envisage themselves. When it comes to analysis, it will be more onerous but there are only 30 or them not 3000 so it is doable. (Famous last words?)
I was surprised how little my pilots wrote. it could have been for loads of reasons, but looking at my questionnaire I realized that in order not to make the questionnaire look too long and scary, I had made wee text boxes. Now i have made them adult-sized and hope it will make a difference. I am DYING to send it out. But want the last two pilots (with the Big Picture questions first and the larger text boxes) - or at least one of them - to come back to me first to make sure that the questions do to some extent work.
Must stop piloting now or I will run out of fellows before i send the final version!!