Self-complete questionnaires: The standard questionnaire module should be a closed tick box question. The category male should be listed before female. This is a standard practice internationally. In pilot testing of the sex question with female listed before male the change of order confused both respondents and processing staff.
The questionnaire module below is an example of a questionnaire module which meets the requirements documented in this standard. Other questionnaire modules may vary in format but should conform to the requirements contained in this standard.
Interviewer administered questionnaires. An example of the question format if a respondent is asked the sex of another respondent or a child who is not at the interview is as follows: "Is [name] male or female?"