Questionnaire vs. Scale: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
A "Questionnaire" is a set of questions for collecting data, while a "Scale" is a tool or standard for measurement or comparison.
Key Differences
"Questionnaire" and "Scale" are both instruments used for data collection in various research fields, yet their purposes and structures differ significantly. A "Questionnaire" is a structured compilation of questions designed to gather information from respondents about a particular subject or interest. These questions can range from open-ended to multiple choice. In contrast, a "Scale" is an instrument or method used to assign values or scores to certain attributes, often based on the responses to specific items or stimuli.
The design of a "Questionnaire" is pivotal for capturing accurate, relevant data. It can be utilized across various fields such as market research, psychology, or health studies. A "Scale", meanwhile, especially in the context of psychometrics, is employed to measure intangible attributes like attitudes, personality traits, or feelings. For instance, the Likert scale gauges the strength of respondents' agreement or disagreement with statements.
"Questionnaires" offer a way to understand perceptions, beliefs, or behaviors by posing direct questions to participants. These questions can be diverse and tailored to fit the study's goals. On the other hand, a "Scale" might be embedded within a questionnaire, offering graded options for responses. It quantifies perceptions, allowing for a more standardized comparison across participants.
While "Questionnaires" and "Scales" can be used independently, they often intersect in many research designs. For instance, a questionnaire may utilize a scale to quantify certain responses, providing both qualitative and quantitative insights. Thus, while they serve different primary functions - a questionnaire for inquiry and a scale for measurement - their combination can offer comprehensive data for analysis.
Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Data collection through direct questions
Measurement of attributes or phenomena
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Structure
Set of questions (open-ended to multiple choice)
Defined range or gradation for responses
Application
Market research, health studies, psychology
Psychometrics, surveys, evaluations
Flexibility
Can be tailored to specific research goals
Standardized for consistent measurements
Dependency
Can be standalone or contain scales within
Often used within questionnaires
Questionnaire and Scale Definitions
Questionnaire
Can be paper-based or digital.
Participants completed the online questionnaire in 15 minutes.
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Scale
Quantifies intangible attributes.
The pain scale helped the doctor understand the patient's discomfort.
Questionnaire
A tool for gathering data.
Researchers used a questionnaire to understand dietary habits.
Scale
Often standardized for consistency.
Researchers use the Likert scale for attitude surveys.
Questionnaire
A structured set of questions.
The company sent out a customer satisfaction questionnaire.
Scale
One of the many small hard dermal or epidermal structures that characteristically form the external covering of fishes and reptiles and certain mammals, such as pangolins.
Questionnaire
Used to capture respondent opinions.
The feedback questionnaire gave insights into product improvements.
Scale
A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.
Questionnaire
May contain open or closed questions.
The questionnaire had multiple-choice and short-answer sections.
Scale
A small, thin, often flattened plant structure, such as one of the modified leaves that cover a tree bud or one of the structures that bear the reproductive organs on the cones of a conifer.
Questionnaire
A form containing a set of questions, especially one addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information for a survey.
Scale
A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
Questionnaire
A form containing a list of questions; a means of gathering information for a survey
Carry out a questionnaire
Fill out a questionnaire
Scale
A skin lesion or lesions marked by such flakes.
Questionnaire
To survey using questionnaires
Scale
A scale insect.
Questionnaire
Same as Questionary.
Scale
A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
Questionnaire
A list of questions, usually on a printed form, to be answered by an individual. The forms often have blank spaces in which the answers can be written. Sets of such forms are distributed to groups and the answers used for various purposes, such as to obtain statistical information for social science, political, or marketing research, or to obtain information about a patient for the use of medical practitioners.
Scale
A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
Questionnaire
A form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information
Scale
A flake of rust.
Scale
A hard mineral coating that forms on the inside surface of boilers, kettles, and other containers in which water is repeatedly heated.
Scale
A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference standard in measurement
A ruler whose scale is in inches.
Scale
An instrument or device bearing such marks.
Scale
A standard of measurement or judgment; a criterion.
Scale
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents
A world map with a scale of 1:4,560,000.
Scale
A calibrated line, as on a map or an architectural plan, indicating such a proportion.
Scale
Proper proportion
A house that seemed out of scale with its surroundings.
Scale
A progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank
Judging divers' performances on a scale of 1 to 10.
Scale
A relative level or degree
Entertained on a lavish scale.
Scale
A minimum wage fixed by contract
Musicians playing a benefit concert for scale.
Scale
(Mathematics) A system of notation in which the values of numerical expressions are determined by their places relative to the chosen base of the system
The decimal scale.
Scale
(Music) An ascending or descending collection of pitches proceeding by a specified scheme of intervals.
Scale
An instrument or machine for weighing.
Scale
Often scales See balance.
Scale
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance.
Scale
To clear or strip of scale or scales
Scale and clean the fish.
Scale
To remove in layers or scales
Scaled off the old paint.
Scale
To cover with scales; encrust.
Scale
To throw or propel (a thin flat object) through the air or along a surface, such as water or ice.
Scale
(Dentistry) To remove (tartar) from tooth surfaces with a pointed instrument.
Scale
To cheat; swindle.
Scale
To ride on (a tram, for example) without paying the fare.
Scale
To come off in scales or layers; flake.
Scale
To become encrusted.
Scale
To climb up or over; ascend
Scaled the peak.
Scale
To make in accord with a particular proportion or scale
Scale the model to be one tenth of actual size.
Scale
To alter according to a standard or by degrees; adjust in calculated amounts
Scaled down their demands.
Scaled back the scheduled pay increase.
Scale
To estimate or measure the quantity of lumber in (logs or uncut trees).
Scale
To climb; ascend.
Scale
To rise in steps or stages.
Scale
To weigh with a scale.
Scale
To have a given weight, as determined by a scale
Cargo that scales 11 tons.
Scale
(obsolete) A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
Scale
An ordered, usually numerical sequence used for measurement, means of assigning a magnitude.
Please rate your experience on a scale from 1 to 10.
The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the open-ended Richter scale.
Scale
Size; scope.
On an enormous scale was a blood-feast.
There are some who question the scale of our ambitions.
Scale
The ratio of depicted distance to actual distance.
This map uses a scale of 1:10.
Scale
A line or bar associated with a drawing, used to indicate measurement when the image has been magnified or reduced.
Scale
(music) A series of notes spanning an octave, tritave, or pseudo-octave, used to make melodies.
Scale
A mathematical base for a numeral system; radix.
The decimal scale; the binary scale
Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order.
Scale
A standard amount of money to be received by a performer or writer, negotiated by a union.
Sally wasn't the star of the show, so she was glad to be paid scale.
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard pieces of keratin covering the skin of an animal, particularly a fish or reptile.
Scale
A small piece of pigmented chitin, many of which coat the wings of a butterfly or moth to give them their color.
Scale
A flake of skin of an animal afflicted with dermatitis.
Scale
Part of an overlapping arrangement of many small, flat and hard protective layers forming a pinecone that flare when mature to release pine nut seeds.
Scale
The flaky material sloughed off heated metal.
Mill scale
Scale
Scale mail (as opposed to chain mail).
Scale
Limescale.
Scale
A scale insect.
Scale
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife.
Scale
A device to measure mass or weight.
After the long, lazy winter I was afraid to get on the scale.
Scale
Either of the pans, trays, or dishes of a balance or scales.
Scale
(transitive) To change the size of something whilst maintaining proportion; especially to change a process in order to produce much larger amounts of the final product.
We should scale that up by a factor of 10.
Scale
(transitive) To climb to the top of.
Hilary and Norgay were the first known to have scaled Everest.
Scale
To tolerate significant increases in throughput or other potentially limiting factors.
That architecture won't scale to real-world environments.
Scale
(transitive) To weigh, measure or grade according to a scale or system.
Scale
(transitive) To remove the scales of.
Please scale that fish for dinner.
Scale
(intransitive) To become scaly; to produce or develop scales.
The dry weather is making my skin scale.
Scale
(transitive) To strip or clear of scale; to descale.
To scale the inside of a boiler
Scale
(transitive) To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
Scale
(intransitive) To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae.
Some sandstone scales by exposure.
Scale
To scatter; to spread.
Scale
(transitive) To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
Scale
The dish of a balance; hence, the balance itself; an instrument or machine for weighing; as, to turn the scale; - chiefly used in the plural when applied to the whole instrument or apparatus for weighing. Also used figuratively.
Long time in even scaleThe battle hung.
The scales are turned; her kindness weighs no moreNow than my vows.
Scale
The sign or constellation Libra.
Scale
One of the small, thin, membranous, bony or horny pieces which form the covering of many fishes and reptiles, and some mammals, belonging to the dermal part of the skeleton, or dermoskeleton. See Cycloid, Ctenoid, and Ganoid.
Fish that, with their fins and shining scales,Glide under the green wave.
Scale
Hence, any layer or leaf of metal or other material, resembling in size and thinness the scale of a fish; as, a scale of iron, of bone, etc.
Scale
One of the small scalelike structures covering parts of some invertebrates, as those on the wings of Lepidoptera and on the body of Thysanura; the elytra of certain annelids. See Lepidoptera.
Scale
A scale insect. (See below.
Scale
A small appendage like a rudimentary leaf, resembling the scales of a fish in form, and often in arrangement; as, the scale of a bud, of a pine cone, and the like. The name is also given to the chaff on the stems of ferns.
Scale
The thin metallic side plate of the handle of a pocketknife. See Illust. of Pocketknife.
Scale
An incrustation deposit on the inside of a vessel in which water is heated, as a steam boiler.
Scale
The thin oxide which forms on the surface of iron forgings. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide, Fe3O4. Also, a similar coating upon other metals.
Scale
A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
Scale
Hence, anything graduated, especially when employed as a measure or rule, or marked by lines at regular intervals.
Scale
Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being.
There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion.
Scale
Relative dimensions, without difference in proportion of parts; size or degree of the parts or components in any complex thing, compared with other like things; especially, the relative proportion of the linear dimensions of the parts of a drawing, map, model, etc., to the dimensions of the corresponding parts of the object that is represented; as, a map on a scale of an inch to a mile.
Scale
To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system.
Scaling his present bearing with his past.
Scale
To strip or clear of scale or scales; as, to scale a fish; to scale the inside of a boiler.
Scale
To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
Scale
To scatter; to spread.
Scale
To clean, as the inside of a cannon, by the explosion of a small quantity of powder.
Scale
To separate and come off in thin layers or laminæ; as, some sandstone scales by exposure.
Those that cast their shell are the lobster and crab; the old skins are found, but the old shells never; so it is likely that they scale off.
Scale
To separate; to scatter.
Scale
To climb by a ladder, or as if by a ladder; to ascend by steps or by climbing; to clamber up; as, to scale the wall of a fort.
Oft have I scaled the craggy oak.
Scale
To lead up by steps; to ascend.
Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,That scaled by steps of gold to heaven-gate,Looks down with wonder.
Scale
An ordered reference standard;
Judging on a scale of 1 to 10
Scale
Relative magnitude;
They entertained on a grand scale
Scale
The ratio between the size of something and a representation of it;
The scale of the map
The scale of the model
Scale
An indicator having a graduated sequence of marks
Scale
A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin
Scale
A thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
Scale
(music) a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave)
Scale
A measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass
Scale
A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
Scale
A flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals
Scale
Measure by or as if by a scale;
This bike scales only 25 pounds
Scale
Pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard
Scale
Take by attacking with scaling ladders;
The troops scaled the walls of the fort
Scale
Reach the highest point of;
We scaled the Mont Blanc
Scale
Climb up by means of a ladder
Scale
Remove the scales from;
Scale fish
Scale
Measure with or as if with scales;
Scale the gold
Scale
Size or measure according to a scale;
This model must be scaled down
Scale
A tool for measurement.
She used a scale to weigh her luggage.
Scale
Represents a range or gradation.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the service?
Scale
A standard for comparison.
Architects use a scale to draw plans proportionally.
FAQs
Are all questionnaires quantitative?
No, questionnaires can be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed.
Can a scale be used outside of research?
Yes, scales are used in various settings, from kitchens to music.
Can one questionnaire have multiple scales?
Yes, a questionnaire can include multiple scales to measure different attributes.
What's the main purpose of a questionnaire?
To gather data from respondents on specific topics.
Is there a fixed format for scales?
No, but many standardized scales are widely accepted and used.
What's the advantage of using a digital questionnaire?
Easier distribution, data collection, and analysis.
Which is more versatile, questionnaire or scale?
Questionnaires are more versatile as they can cover various topics and include scales.
Can scales measure emotions?
Yes, scales like the Likert scale can quantify emotions or attitudes.
Can a questionnaire be oral?
Yes, some questionnaires are administered orally, especially in interviews.
What ensures the accuracy of a scale?
Calibration and standardization ensure a scale's accuracy.
Are scales always numerical?
Mostly, but some scales use descriptors like "agree" or "disagree."
Is feedback form a type of questionnaire?
Yes, feedback forms are a type of questionnaire focused on feedback.
How to ensure a questionnaire's reliability?
Through pilot testing, revisions, and validation.
Can a scale be a physical tool?
Yes, like a weighing scale or a ruler.
How long should a questionnaire be?
It varies, but it should be as concise as possible while gathering necessary data.
Can questionnaires be informal?
Yes, they can be informal, especially for internal feedback or casual settings.
Can scales be subjective?
While the intent is objectivity, interpretation of scale results can be subjective.
Why use a scale in a questionnaire?
To quantify and standardize responses for comparison.
Why are scales important in research?
They provide a standardized way to measure and compare data.
Are questionnaires always anonymous?
Not always, but anonymity can improve response honesty.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
