Cognitive pretesting is an essential method of piloting questionnaires and ensuring quality of survey data. Web probing has emerged as an innovative method of cognitive pretesting, especially for cross-cultural and web surveys. The order of presenting questions in cognitive pretesting can differ from the order of presentation in the later survey. Yet empirical evidence is missing whether the order of presenting survey questions influences the answers to open-ended probing questions. The present study examines the effect of question order on web probing in the United States and Germany. Results indicate that probe responses are not strongly impacted by question order. However, both content and consistency of probe responses may differ cross-culturally. Implications for cognitive pretesting are discussed.

认知预测试是引导问卷调查和确保调查数据质量的基本方法。网络探测已成为一种创新的认知预测试方法，尤其是对于跨文化和网络调查而言。在认知预测中提出问题的顺序可能与以后的调查中提出问题的顺序不同。然而，缺少实证证据是否提出调查问题的顺序会影响开放式探究问题的答案。本研究考察了在美国和德国，问题顺序对网络探测的影响。结果表明，探针回答不受问题顺序的强烈影响。但是，跨文化的探查响应的内容和一致性可能会有所不同。讨论了认知预测试的含义。