How to Make a Good Survey That Yields Actionable Results

Creating an effective survey requires careful planning and attention to detail. A well-designed survey can yield valuable insights and data for organizations of all sizes. Good survey questions are clear, concise, and unbiased, focusing on one topic at a time to avoid confusion.

Survey creation involves more than just writing questions. Effective survey design considers the overall structure, question order, and response options. Best practices include starting with easy questions to engage respondents, using a mix of question types, and providing clear instructions throughout the survey.

Surveys should be kept as short as possible while still gathering necessary information. This approach respects respondents’ time and increases completion rates. Tools like Formifyr can streamline the survey creation process, offering templates and customization options to fit various research needs.

Designing Your Survey

Effective survey design is crucial for gathering meaningful data. A well-crafted survey balances clarity, relevance, and user-friendliness to maximize response rates and data quality.

Understanding Survey Objectives

Define clear goals for your survey before starting the design process. Identify the specific information you need to collect and how it will be used. This clarity will guide question formulation and survey structure.

Consider the target audience and tailor the language accordingly. Use terminology familiar to respondents to ensure accurate comprehension and responses.

Align each question with your survey objectives. Avoid including irrelevant questions that may confuse participants or dilute the focus of your research.

Choosing the Right Question Types

Select question types that best suit your data collection needs. Closed-ended questions, such as multiple choice or Likert scale, provide quantifiable data and are easier to analyze.

Open-ended questions allow for more detailed responses but require more time to process. Use these sparingly for in-depth insights on specific topics.

Mix question types to maintain respondent engagement. Include demographic questions strategically, typically at the end of the survey, to gather important contextual data.

Consider using skip logic to create a personalized survey experience based on previous responses.

Formatting Your Survey

Create a logical flow by grouping related questions together. Start with simple, engaging questions to build rapport before moving to more complex or sensitive topics.

Keep the survey concise to prevent respondent fatigue. Aim for a completion time of 5-10 minutes for optimal engagement.

Use a clean, professional design with a consistent layout. Incorporate your brand elements if appropriate, but prioritize readability and ease of navigation.

Ensure the survey is mobile-responsive for accessibility across devices. Test the survey on various platforms before launch to identify any formatting issues.

Consider offering the survey in multiple languages or accessible formats to reach a broader audience if necessary.

Crafting Quality Content

Creating effective surveys requires careful attention to question design, avoiding pitfalls, and refining through testing. These elements are crucial for gathering accurate and valuable data.

Writing Effective Questions

Clear and concise questions form the foundation of a good survey. Use simple language that respondents can easily understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms unless necessary for your target audience.

Be specific in your inquiries. Instead of asking “Do you exercise?”, try “How many times per week do you engage in physical activity for 30 minutes or more?”

The funnel technique can be useful – start with broader questions and gradually narrow down to more specific ones. This approach helps respondents ease into the survey and provides context for later questions.

Consider using a variety of question types. Multiple choice, rating scales, and open-ended questions each have their place. Ranking questions can provide valuable insights, but ensure instructions are clear.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Leading questions can skew results by suggesting a particular answer. For example, “Don’t you agree that our product is the best?” introduces bias. Instead, ask “How would you rate our product?”

Double-barreled questions address two separate issues in one question. “How satisfied are you with our product’s price and quality?” should be split into two distinct questions.

Loaded questions contain assumptions that may not apply to all respondents. “What do you enjoy most about our service?” assumes the respondent uses and enjoys the service.

Avoid absolute terms like “always” or “never” in your questions. These can make respondents hesitate if they can think of any exceptions.

Testing and Improving Your Survey

Before launching your survey, conduct a test run with a small group. This helps identify confusing questions, technical issues, or areas where respondents might lose interest.

Time how long it takes to complete the survey. If it’s too long, consider trimming unnecessary questions.

Analyze the test responses. Are you getting the type of data you need? If not, revise your questions accordingly.

Consider benchmarking your questions against established surveys in your field. This can provide a basis for comparison and help ensure you’re asking the right questions.

Seek feedback from colleagues or industry experts. They may spot issues or suggest improvements you hadn’t considered.

Formifyr can be a valuable tool for creating and testing surveys, offering features to streamline the process and improve question quality.