What is a double-barreled question?

A double-barreled question is a type of survey error that sneaks in two separate questions but only gives the respondent a single chance to answer. People answering double-barreled questions might focus on only one part of the question and ignore the other. This can mess up the accuracy of your survey results.

Let’s understand what is a double-barreled question with an example: “Have you stopped eating junk food and started exercising?” Now, hold on a sec. That’s two questions packed into one.

What if they stopped eating junk food but haven’t even thought about exercising? Or maybe they’re hitting the gym but still munching on chips? See the problem?

Now, do these questions pop up on surveys on purpose? Sometimes, it’s an accidental shot fired by a tired survey maker who’s been staring at a screen for too long. Other times, it’s intentional, like when you’re trying to cram a bunch of questions into a shorter survey. But either way, one thing’s for sure: it can mess with your survey data.

Examples of double-barreled questions

Here’s how to spot double-barreled questions:

• Look for “and” or “or”: If you see these words in a question, your alarm bells should start ringing. They often signal that there’s more than one question hiding in there.

• Break it down: Take a closer look at the question and see if you can split it into two separate questions. If you can, you’ve caught yourself a double-barreled question.

• Check for conflicting answers: If someone could answer “yes” to one part of the question and “no” to the other, it’s probably double-barreled. That’s a sure sign that you’re dealing with a tricky one.

Now, let’s look at a few examples of double-barreled questions in surveys.

Double-barreled questions in customer satisfaction survey

1. “Was our product high-quality and affordable?”

This question combines two separate aspects of customer satisfaction—quality and affordability—into one. Respondents might have different opinions on each aspect, but the question doesn’t allow them to express that.

A better way to ask the same questions would be to split the question into two separate ones:

• “How would you rate the quality of our product?”
• “How would you rate the affordability of our product?”

2. “How satisfied were you with the quality of our product and the helpfulness of our customer service team?”

Again, the question asks about two separate experiences (product quality and customer service) in one go. The respondent might be satisfied with one but not the other, and their answer won’t reflect that.

You can paraphrase the same question as:

• “On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being very dissatisfied and 5 being very satisfied), how satisfied were you with the overall quality of our product?”
• “On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful), how helpful did you find our customer service team?”

Double-barreled question examples in employee engagement surveys

1. “Do you feel valued by your manager and do you have opportunities to learn and grow in your role?”

This example of a double-barreled question combines feeling valued (emotional) with growth opportunities (professional).

Here’s how to break it down:

• “To what extent do you feel valued by your manager?” (Multiple choice options: strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree)
• “How satisfied are you with the opportunities for learning and development in your current role?” (Multiple choice options: very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied)

2. “Do you feel challenged and motivated in your role, and would you recommend this company as a great place to work?”

This double-barreled question example also combines an internal feeling (challenged and motivated) with an external recommendation. These can be independent and shouldn’t be forced into one answer.

Ask these two entities separately in the following way:

• “How challenged and motivated do you feel in your current role?” (Open-ended or scaled response)
• “On a scale of 1 to 5, how likely are you to recommend this company as a great place to work?”

Why avoid double-barreled survey questions?

Avoiding double-barreled survey questions is crucial for businesses to gather accurate and actionable feedback, and here’s why:

• Double-barreled questions can confuse respondents and result in inaccurate or biased survey responses. People may have conflicting answers and get stuck trying to decide which one to prioritize, while their true feelings might get lost in the mix.
• When respondents misunderstand or misinterpret double-barreled survey questions, it skews the survey data. You may end up with faulty conclusions and misguided decisions without even realizing it.
• Double-barreled questions lump together multiple concerns into one, which makes it difficult for businesses to pinpoint specific problems. For example, asking, “Was our customer service friendly and efficient?” doesn’t provide clear insights into whether customers found the service friendly or efficient, or both, which makes it challenging to improve.
• If customers or employees feel that their feedback isn’t being properly considered or addressed due to poorly constructed survey questions, it can damage the company’s reputation. Word spreads fast in today’s interconnected world, and negative experiences can tarnish a company’s image quickly.

By splitting double-barreled questions up, you get clear and actionable feedback that helps you make informed decisions. With accurate data, you can identify areas for improvement and implement changes that resonate with your target audience. This translates to happier customers, more engaged employees, and ultimately, a thriving business.

Clear questions are easier to answer, leading to a more positive survey experience. Satisfied participants are more likely to engage in future surveys, providing you with a steady stream of valuable data.

How to avoid double-barreled questions?

The following tips will help you steer clear of double-barrelled questions in surveys.

Focus on one aspect at a time

When creating questions for surveys or questionnaires, it’s easy to get carried away and try to pack too much into one question. But as cliched as it may sound, simplicity is key!

One of the best ways to avoid falling into the double-barreled question trap is to focus on one aspect at a time. Think about what single aspect you want to understand. Is it customer satisfaction with a product feature, employee sentiment about workload, or website usability?  Design your question to target that specific area.

Split up your questions

Take a good look at your question and figure out what it’s really asking. Once you’ve pinpointed the different aspects of your question, slice them up. Separate each part into its own question and give each topic its moment in the spotlight.

For example, let’s say you’re surveying your employees for their feedback. Instead of asking, “Are you satisfied with your workload and your salary?” (a classic double-barreled question), split it up with the following questions:

• “Are you satisfied with your workload?”
• “Are you satisfied with your salary?”

By splitting up complex questions, you make it easier for respondents to digest and respond, which ultimately produces better insights for your business.

Only ask questions that align with your survey’s purpose

When designing your survey questions, keep your eye on the prize. Ask yourself, “Does this question directly contribute to our survey goal?” If the answer is no, it’s time to reroute and find a question that does.

Let’s say you’re conducting a survey to improve employee satisfaction. Instead of asking a double-barreled question like, “Are you happy with your work environment or do you prefer working from home?”, align your question with your cause. Notice how the second part of this double-barreled question is not relevant to your goal.

You can rephrase it as: “How satisfied are you with your current work environment?”

An award-winning survey tool to the rescue!

In conclusion, you want to avoid double-barreled questions that can wreak havoc on your surveys, and leave you with murky data and a skewed understanding of your target audience.  

Here at Formaloo, we understand the importance of well-designed surveys. That’s why we offer a variety of survey templates that can help you avoid double-barreled questions and gather valuable feedback.  

With a wide range of question types and customization options, Formaloo empowers you to create surveys that get the honest feedback you need to move your business forward.

Sign up for free today and take advantage of our survey templates or make your own from scratch.