Questionnaire vs. Scale — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 28, 2023
A questionnaire is a set of written questions for gathering information, while a scale is a standard or measurement tool, often a subset within a questionnaire.
Difference Between Questionnaire and Scale
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Questionnaire is a methodological instrument consisting of a set of questions designed to collect data from respondents. It can be utilized to gather information on a broad range of topics, from customer satisfaction to personal beliefs. On the other hand, a scale is a type of measurement instrument, often incorporated within a questionnaire, designed to assess a specific trait, attitude, or characteristic on a continuum.
Elaborating on the questionnaire, it can encompass a variety of question types, such as open-ended, multiple choice, or Likert scale items. The primary aim is to gain qualitative or quantitative data from participants. Questionnaires are versatile and can be administered in multiple ways: paper-based, online, or through face-to-face interviews. Conversely, when discussing a scale, it's essential to recognize its role in quantifying abstract concepts.
When formulating a questionnaire, researchers carefully select or design scales that align with their research objectives. While the questionnaire is the broader tool, the scale provides the precision, allowing researchers to standardize responses and facilitate comparison. It's also notable that while every scale can be part of a questionnaire, not every questionnaire will contain scales. Some might only consist of open-ended or dichotomous questions.
In layman's terms, if you imagine a questionnaire as a toolbox, a scale would be one specific tool inside that box, meticulously designed for a particular function.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A set of written questions for data collection.
A standard or measurement tool.
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Scope
Broader, encompasses various question types.
Specific, often a subset within a questionnaire
Purpose
Collecting qualitative or quantitative data.
Quantifying abstract concepts.
Types
Open-ended, multiple choice, Likert scale items, etc.
Likert scale, Semantic differential, etc.
Example Use
Customer feedback, academic research, health assessment.
Assessing attitudes, traits, or perceptions.
Compare with Definitions
Questionnaire
A written set of questions designed for gathering information
The doctor handed me a health questionnaire.
Scale
A measurement tool for quantifying abstract concepts
The psychologist used a scale to measure anxiety levels.
Questionnaire
An instrument in research to collect data from respondents
She conducted her thesis using an extensive questionnaire.
Scale
A set range with established intervals or markers
The scale ranged from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
Questionnaire
A structured format to facilitate organized data collection
The online questionnaire streamlined the survey process.
Scale
A standard by which something is judged or measured
The product was rated on a quality scale.
Questionnaire
A list of queries to ascertain opinions or facts
The company distributed a product feedback questionnaire.
Scale
A subset of items in a questionnaire to assess a particular trait
The depression scale consisted of 20 items.
Questionnaire
A tool used in various fields for assessment or feedback
The teacher used a questionnaire to evaluate the course.
Scale
A scale insect. (See below.
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions (or other types of prompts) for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. The questionnaire was invented by the Statistical Society of London in 1838.Although questionnaires are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case.
Scale
(transitive) To remove the scales of.
Please scale that fish for dinner.
Questionnaire
Same as Questionary.
Scale
(intransitive) To become scaly; to produce or develop scales.
The dry weather is making my skin scale.
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
(transitive) To take off in thin layers or scales, as tartar from the teeth; to pare off, as a surface.
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
To scatter; to spread.
Questionnaire
To survey using questionnaires
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.
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
To separate; to scatter.
Questionnaire
A form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information
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
A specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin
Scale
A metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
Scale
Pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard
Scale
Climb up by means of a ladder
Scale
A skin lesion or lesions marked by such flakes.
Scale
(transitive) To weigh, measure or grade according to a scale or system.
Scale
(intransitive) To separate and come off in thin layers or laminae.
Some sandstone scales by exposure.
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
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 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 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
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 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 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
Take by attacking with scaling ladders;
The troops scaled the walls of the fort
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 sequence of numbers or levels
The pain scale helped the patient convey his discomfort.
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.
Scale
A similar part in other animals, such as one of the thin flat overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths.
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.
Scale
A dry thin flake of epidermis shed from the skin.
Scale
A scale insect.
Scale
A plant disease or infestation caused by scale insects.
Scale
A flaky oxide film formed on a metal, as on iron, that has been heated to high temperatures.
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 strip or clear of scale; to descale.
To scale the inside of a boiler
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
Reach the highest point of;
We scaled the Mont Blanc
Common Curiosities
Can a questionnaire be one question?
Technically yes, but it's often a series of questions to gather comprehensive data.
Is a scale always part of a questionnaire?
No, scales can stand alone or be embedded within a questionnaire.
Are all questionnaires quantitative?
No, questionnaires can be both quantitative and qualitative based on the nature of questions.
Is a scorecard a type of scale?
A scorecard can incorporate scales but has a broader function, often evaluating against multiple criteria.
How are scales scored in a questionnaire?
It varies. Some scales use simple summation, while others might have more complex scoring.
Can a questionnaire exist without scales?
Yes, a questionnaire can have only open-ended or dichotomous questions without scales.
Can one questionnaire have multiple scales?
Absolutely. A comprehensive questionnaire can contain multiple scales to measure various aspects.
What's a common type of scale in research?
The Likert scale, often assessing agreement or frequency, is a common type.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
