ESRA 2027 sessions by theme

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Session Details

Survey research increasingly relies on self-reports from children and adolescents to
study their attitudes, behaviors, well-being, social relationships, and life circumstances.
Yet, many questionnaires and measurement instruments were originally developed for
adults and subsequently adapted for younger respondents, often with limited evidence
on whether they function equally well across age groups. Children and adolescents
differ substantially in their cognitive, linguistic, and social development, making age-
appropriate questionnaire design a central methodological challenge. The increasing
use of self-administered web surveys adds further challenges, as younger respondents
may differ from adults in their reading skills, attention, device use, interaction with
survey interfaces, and familiarity with digital media.

This session focuses on the development, adaptation, and evaluation of questionnaires
for children and adolescents, with a particular emphasis on self-administered web
surveys. We invite methodological and applied contributions examining how
questionnaire design affects comprehension, response processes, measurement
quality, and the survey experience of younger respondents. We particularly welcome
studies comparing alternative questionnaire designs, evaluating established design
principles, or introducing innovative approaches.

The session aims to bring together methodological and applied research to advance
evidence-based recommendations for questionnaire design in surveys of children and
adolescents. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Adaptation and validation of measurement instruments, including adaptations of
adult instruments and measurement invariance across age groups
- Question wording and comprehension, including linguistic complexity and age-
related differences in understanding
- Response scale design, including scale length, labeling, and uni- vs. bipolar formats
- Visual and web-specific design features, including images, videos, avatars and
interactive elements
- Questionnaire burden and respondent experience, including questionnaire length,
cognitive burden, engagement, and survey experience
- Pretesting and participatory questionnaire development, including cognitive
interviewing and involving children and adolescents in instrument development