Investigation of Validity of Closed Questions in a Survey of British South Asian and White Populations

Abstract

Objectives. The paper concerns the validity of closed-format questions in an interview-based population survey and focuses on a comparison of South Asian and white respondents. Method. A two-part interview consisting of open, respondent-centred questions followed by closed questions taken from a large-scale interview-based health survey was carried out with 15 persons from white and 14 from South Asian communities resident in the UK. Interviewees’ views of their stays in hospital was the focus. Results. The two-part interview was found to provide a broadly satisfactory method for the investigation of validity although a limitation was recognised. Twenty-nine per cent of the variation in response to a closed question on ‘overall satisfaction’ was predictable from views expressed in the open interview. The views of both groups, as expressed in the open interview, were inadequately represented by the closed questions. This appeared to be especially true for the South Asian sample. The validity of the closed question appeared greater for white than for South Asian interviewees. Conclusions. It is concluded that when designing and piloting health surveys consideration should be given to members of all communities to be included in the survey.