Hi Jamal;

You can use it if there is an existing scale related to the topic you are researching. However, it should be noted that the results from the scale must be valid and reliable.

Best wishes...

Dear Jamal,

Using the questions which have already been developed has several advantages. The first and possibly most obvious one is that the questions would have already been tested at the time of their first use, thus researchers could be fairly confident that they are good indicators of their concepts of interest. This leads to a second advantage, in that savings can be made in terms of both money – as no question developers are needed - and time – as questions. A third advantage is that in some substantive areas, methodological work on conceptualisation and measurement has been done; this can complement the questions and provide guidance as to how they can act as indicators of concepts. The use of pre-existing survey questions is unfortunately not free of drawbacks; researchers ought to be aware of these when undertaking any question ‘recycling’. First, the availability of information on responses to questions is limited, and in many cases, restricted only to those that are covered by the Nesstar Catalogue. Second, although extensive, the questions available from the Question Bank are not exhaustive, so there is no guarantee that users will find the exact item they are seeking. However, as previously mentioned, adaptation of other questions (as appropriate) is a potential solution to this problem.     

Wiyh my best regards

Prof. Bachir ACHOUR     

If an existing valid questionnaire suits your research, it is good to use it. As Prof. Achour has stated, it has some obvious advantages. However, you need to carefully examine the questionnaire with respect to your research questions/objectives and where necessary your theoretical and/or conceptual frameworks. You will also have to ensure that the type of data that could be obtained from the questionnaire will be available in your area of study.

In many cases, it is advisable to adapt an existing questionnaire before using it. Apart from making the questionnaire suitable to your context, adaptation is also a way you make some contribution to knowledge. An examiner or a reviewer is likely to place higher value on your work if you have made some additions and modifications to an exiting questionnaire than if you just used it the way it is.

However, be sure to carry out a fresh validation of the questionnaire when you have adapted it to your purpose

Best regards

Is it recommended to develop a new questionnaire for a doing a research or use a valid one which was used by another researcher(s)?

The comprehensive comments have mentioned by the previous colleagues. I believe, it is common_especially in social science, that scholars can use the previous methodological points (e.g., the approach, method, strategy, technique, tools, and the procedure points) through the adoption, combination, or the adaptation processes. But the scholars have to keep the validity issues of the above-mentioned points and the trust issues of the process.