About the Questionnaire

I created the questionnaire in 2008 and tested it using retrospective cases from my Unit with information taken from diving logs, statements and other sources. I knew that I had to be specific with what questions were being asked as I wanted to make it short enough to be achievable to fill in by busy search operatives but detailed enough that a cross section of information was being gathered. Because it was to appeal to search personnel from all countries and walks of life I wanted to make it as easy as possible to fill out and send.

The questionnaire is split into four sections. (Click on each image for an expanded view ). The fourth section is open-ended for free text regarding additional details.

The blue section relates to the circumstances of how the person came to be in the water

Click on the image for an expanded view

The yellow section asks details relating to the water itself.

Click on the image for an expanded view

The green section asks for details about the body.

Click on the image for an expanded view

The questionnaire has open fields and what is returned in these is copied verbatim into the database. The questionnaire is anonymous and it is available as an online version as well as hard copy. The Study has passed ethics scrutiny and any data collected by the questionnaire is protected. This means that it can never be used for commercial gain but only for the greater good, to achieve the aims of the study and be used for the purposes of finding missing people more expeditiously.

Please click on the images to view them or download a full copy of the questionnaire or go here to complete the online version .