We support you in Cognitive Pretesting

Cognitive pretests are used in the development or adaptation of survey instruments to ensure that the questions and items are understandable and interpreted as intended. They are an important building block for ensuring high data quality in surveys. We offer researchers the opportunity to have cognitive pretests carried out by GESIS experts. In consultation with you, we select the questions to be tested, create the cognitive guide, carry out the cognitive pretest and deliver a results report including suggestions for revision.

Our Cognitive Pretesting Services

Various methods are available for the cognitive pretesting of survey instruments. We would be happy to advise you on the selection and application of suitable pretesting methods that you can use to evaluate your survey instruments. We are also happy to carry out the pretests on your behalf.
If you would like to conduct a cognitive pretest on your own, we will advise you on the implementation and evaluation. We will be happy to provide you with an individual quote for comprehensive and time-intensive pretest support.

Cognitive Interviewing

In cognitive interviews, test subjects complete a questionnaire and are asked questions about how they arrived at their answers ("probes"). The interviews can be conducted in person on our premises, by telephone or by video conference.

Web Probing

In web probing, the cognitive inquiries are implemented in an online questionnaire. The respondents' answers provide information on whether all respondents interpret an item or a term in the same way, or whether there are systematic differences in understanding between different groups of respondents.

Screen Recording and Eye Tracking

To test self-administered questionnaires on stationary and mobile devices, we use screen recording options to test their usability. For mobile devices, we use cameras that capture the smartphone screen and the respondent's interaction with the online questionnaire. In addition, eye tracking can be used to track and record the eye movements of the respondent (live) when answering a questionnaire.

You can find more information on these methods in our survey guidelines on cognitive pretesting, the use of eye tracking in cognitive interviews and web probing. In the Meet the Experts series, our experts also explain in short videos what to look out for when conducting cognitive interviews and web probing studies. You can find our current research on cognitive pretesting below under "Research".

Pretest anfragen

The costs for carrying out pretests are project-specific and depend on the number of test persons, the number of questions to be tested and the pretesting method used. We will be happy to provide you with an individual quote. Advice on the independent implementation of pretests is usually provided free of charge

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Research tested Items in our Pretest Database

The GESIS Pretest Database is an open access repository that currently contains over 2000 questions or items that have been evaluated using cognitive pretests at GESIS. For tested items, the detailed results of the pretest are documented, as well as any suggestions for optimizing the items. A special search function facilitates the search for suitable items for your research project.

References

Our varied client list thus far includes a number of externally funded research projects, in addition to the following survey programs, institutes and agencies: