Pure binary question structure

DO NOT USE!

question-struct/qscheck:

The idea here is of pure binary choices, like the now classic Facebook "like", representable with checkbox. This is suitable for automatic data gathering, and that is one of its problems.

This is the barest possible kind of question, with answers "yes" or "not yes". But as this is purely binary, there is a clear potential for polarizing questions. It would be suitable for gathering external input from e.g. Facebook "like" data, and perhaps that is exactly the problem: FB tends to polarize. Are you in or out? One of us or one of them? "The one who is not with us is against us." For these reasons, we will not have this kind of question, and it is listed here to make that clear and give the reasons.

Substitutes:

like or not (currently)

Choose the most significant one or more items, and do a proper Likert scale on each. Alternatively, if there are just two polar ones, do an A/B choice question. The point here is that the A/B preference questions have explicitly 5 points, not a stark binary choice.

know or not (yet)

competent or not (yet)

If asked in a binary way, people are inclined to misjudge themselves, mostly exaggerating their knowledge or ability because that is the 'right' answer. Instead, choose or invent a decent level scheme, and ask a level question based on that.

done this or not (yet)

Whether something has been done or not varies vastly in its implications, depending on what that achievement means to the person achieving it. Ask questions based on the underlying meaning, rather than what was done (on the surface).

visited here or not (yet)

Although this could be seen as a factual yes/no question, the mere fact of visiting somewhere could be almost meaningless, like calling in at a port for an afternoon. Instead, if somewhere holds significant meaning for you, consider a level question