Content Index
- Dichotomous questions
- Multiple choice
- Rank order scaling
- Rating scale
- Semantic differential scale
- Stapel scale
- Constant sum survey questions
- Open-ended
- Demographic survey questions
- Matrix table
- Side-by-side matrix
- Static content
- Miscellaneous
- Visual analog scale
- Image chooser
- Data reference
- Upload data
- Net Promoter Score (NPS)
- Choice model
- Good survey questions
Popular survey questions and examples
The types of questions you ask can prove to be one most critical factors determining the success of a survey.
From email to SMS surveys, the common denominator that determines effectiveness is the questions. Different question and answer types promote multiple answers, even for similar questions.
This guide covers the types of survey questions available and looks at what makes good survey questions. We'll also explore examples and give you access to sample survey questions as a template for writing your own.
Using different question and answer types effectively lead to more engaging surveys. Incorporating the different types gives you more complete and accurate results.
1.Dichotomous questions
Dichotomous is generally a "Yes/No" question. It's often a screening question to filter those who don't fit the needs of the research.
Dichotomous question example:
For example, you want to know information about people who use your products. This type of question screens respondents to determine if they own your products. Those who have are to buy move to the end of the survey.
Dichotomous questions can also separate respondents by a specific value. For example, this might be those who "have purchased" and those who "are yet to purchase" your products.
The survey then asks different question sets to the two groups. You may want to know the satisfaction of the "have purchased" group. For the other set of respondents, you can learn more about their reasons of not buying products or services.
2. Multiple choice
The multiple-choice survey questionsconsist of three or more exhaustive, mutually exclusive categories. Ask for either single or multiple answers. In the following survey questions example, the user selects only one out of the seven provided. You could configure this question to allow users to select multiple answers, such as all of the above responses.
Multiple choice survey question example:
Remember to include a category for "other" answers to serve as a catch-all for users not represented in the choices you provide.
3. Rank order scaling
Rank order scaling types of survey questions allow ranking of brands or products. You list options and ask users to rank them on specific attributes or characteristics. Consider a fitness tracker company that wants to know what features their users like the most. List down the features and ask your respondents to rank the options based on how much they like them.
Rank order scaling survey example:
4. Rating scale
A rating scale question requires a person to rate a product or brand along within a well-defined range. Rating scales measure the direction and intensity of attitudes.
Rating scale survey question example:
5. Semantic differential scale
The SemanticDifferentialScale question asks a person to rate a product, brand, or company on a seven-point rating scale. The ends of the scale feature polar-opposite adjectives, for example "Very unlikely" to "Very likely". A typical example is asking customers to rate their willingness to purchase the product again.
Semantic differential scale survey example:
Unlike the rating scale, the semantic differential scale does not have a neutral or middle selection. A person must choose, to a certain extent, one or the other adjective.
6. Stapel scale
The stapel scale question asks a person to rate a brand, product, or service according to a specific characteristic on a scale from -5 to +5. The rating range indicates how well the attribute describes the product or service.
Stapel scale survey example:
7. Constant sum survey questions
A constant sum survey question permits the collection of "ratio" data. It means data can express the relative value or importance of the options. For example, if option A is twice as important as option B.
Constant sum survey example:
Use this question when you are relatively sure of the reasons for purchase. Total study items must equal 100 points. The application uses JavaScript to check the sum of the points.
8. Open-ended
The openended survey question explores qualitative, in-depth aspects of a particular topic or issue. It gives the person a chance to respond in detail. Although open questions provide a direct look into a person's thoughts, don't overuse them. Open questions are time-consuming and require more effort. You might accidentally lower your number of responses.
A great way to incorporate an open question is through the "other" option of multiple-choice questions. Add an open ended textbox after your multiple-choice options to capture each user's response to "other".For example, you ask a person's favorite color and include options for orange, green, blue, and "other." For the respondents whose favorite color is not present as one of the options, they can select "other" option and enter their answer.
Open-ended survey question example:
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9.Demographic survey questions
Demographic information is integral to the success of a survey. It identifies age, gender, income, race, geographic location, number of children, and other essential qualifiers. Let's say most of your customers come from the Southwest US region, between the ages of 50 and 65, and have income between $50,000 and $75,000.
Demographic data helps you paint a more accurate picture of the groups you’re trying to understand. A better understanding of your audience allows you to allocate promotional resources effectively.
Demographic survey example:
Survey questions example templates also include psychographic and lifestyle topics. These questions provide an in-depth psychological profile and look at the activities, interests, and opinions of respondents.
Learn more: Top 7 demographic survey questions for questionnaire
10. Matrixtable
Matrix table questions are in the tabular format. The questions reside on the left of the table with answer options across the top. They are two-dimensional variants of multiple-choice questions. Multipoint scales allow respondents to select only one option per parameter, while multi-select will enable them to choose multiple options.
The spreadsheet structure converts text and options into organized tables that are easy for the respondents to complete.
Matrix survey example:
11.Side-by-side matrix
Need to know multiple aspects of a single parameter? Use a side-by-side matrix for a visually appealing design. It gives you the option to define various rating options simultaneously.
Consider that you need to know how important and satisfied a customer is with customer service. A side-by-side matrix allows you to ask about both at once. This layout also makes it easy to identify the problem areas to make changes and improve your business.
Side by side matrix survey example:
12. Static content
Static questions add value to your questionnaire by displaying additional information. Presentation text questions, a static type, usually separate different sections of a survey. You can also add headings and subheadings to the various parts of the study to make it aesthetically pleasing.
Static text question example:
13.Miscellaneous
This category of survey questions captures a variety of data types. Depending on the purpose of the survey, you might want to collect a captcha code, date of birth, or point on a map.
Miscellaneous survey question example:
14.Visual analog scale
The Visual analog scale allows you to increase the visual appeal of questions. For example, you ask participants to rate the services they receive. Text sliders and numeric sliders provide a convenient and engaging way to answer. Other options include social media sharing, star-rating questions, thumbs up or down, and smiley-rating. Smiley ratings, in particular, are pleasant to the eyes and deliver a positive impact.
Smiley survey example:
15.Image chooser
The use of images improves user experience. Consider an article with lot of text. Would you prefer to read a page with only text or the one with lots of attractive graphics? Most people will choose the one with images.
Image chooser question example:
Put this theory into practice to increase user responses. Image questions allow the respondents an opportunity to select images from a list. Take the image chooser question type to the next level with an image matrix.
16. Datareference
Data reference questions gather and validate data against the standard databases. A zip code, for example, is a type of data deference. Another option is the dynamic lookup tables. Use these tables to depict data according to rankings.
Data reference survey question example:
17. Upload data
This type allows users to upload documents, images, and more to their survey responses.
Upload data question example:
18. NetPromoter Score (NPS)
A Net Promoter Score survey research questions measure brand shareability and customer satisfaction. It asks respondents to rate whether they'll recommend your company to their network on a scale of 0 to 10. It categorizes the respondents into Promoters (9-10), Passives (7-8), and Detractors (0-6).
Your NPS helps you identify why customers are promoting or detracting from your brand. Patterns in the responses of Promoters and Detractors provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your business.
NPS question example:
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19. Choice model
Choice model survey questions include Conjoint Analysis and Maximum Difference Scaling.
Conjoint Analysis is one of the most accepted quantitative methods in market research. Use it to determine client preferences. For example, discover which product features customers prefer or how price changes influence sales.
Maximum Difference Scaling is an effective way to establish a relative ranking for up to 30 elements. They might include:
- Features or benefits of a service
- Areas for potential investment of resources
- Interests and activities
- Potential marketing messages for a new product
- Products or Services in use
Conjoint choice model survey example:
What are good survey questions?
Which question type should you use to get the best response rate? Does the language of the questions make a significant impact? How do you find good survey questions examples?
It turns out that it takes a little of both to get the perfect questions. Learn how to use question types to write great questions and get examples.
Keep things fair: Don't boast too much about your products or services. Limit your use of adjectives to avoid distancing your customers. You want your company to appear open to constructive criticism. Dodge questions like: "What do you feel about the warm welcome our staff gave at your arrival?" Respondents will rather prefer, "How did you like your welcome at our hotel?"
Simple survey questions = Better responses: Come up with items that are easy to understand and answer. Expecting respondents to answer essay-like questions repeatedly causes burnout and lowers response rate. Instead, focus on easy-to-answer issues that don't take too long.
Don't ask just because you can: You may feel the need to get as much information as you can from a single survey. However, this temptation causes your study to veer off track. Many users see overly nosy surveys as suspicious and irritating.
Skip what-ifs: Avoid cooking up situations your respondents may never face. You'll lower the response rate and receive fewer authentic answers. What-if scenarios relevant to your audience, however, could increase the effectiveness of your questionnaire.
Ask "how": A single select question like "Did you like our gym?" will get you either "yes" or "no." Skip the yes/no questions and focus on asking how your business did instead. For example, you could ask, "How did you find the services at our gym?" Answers could include "extremely professional," "moderately professional," and "not at all professional." This question captures detailed data and can lead to more actionable insights.
Don't ask more than one question at once: The last thing you want is to confuse respondents. Asking two or more correlated items in one question will baffle your customers. Interlinking multiple topics also promotes the idea that neither is significant. Divide complicated topics into multiple questions for the most effective and reliable answers.
Additional sensitivities to keep in mind when creating good survey questions:
If you have to ask sensitive questions, such as religion or political affiliation, place them next to the questions contextually related to them. This will make it easier for the respondents to understand why you're asking.
Make the first questions simple, pleasant, and exciting.
Include a question mark near the end of every question.
Ensure all questions are grammatically correct and error-free.
Avoid jargon and use terms and concepts that are easy for all respondents to understand.
Remember that simplicity and a direct approach inspire respondents to complete a survey.
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FAQs
What are examples of survey questions? ›
- Multiple choice questions.
- Rating scale questions.
- Likert scale questions.
- Matrix questions.
- Dropdown questions.
- Open-ended questions.
- Demographic questions.
- Ranking questions.
So how many questions should you ask on a survey? There is no hard and fast answer. However, as a general rule, the survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete; less than five minutes is more than twice as good. Typically, this means about five to 10 questions.
What are the 5 types of survey questions? ›- Open-Ended Questions.
- Multiple Choice Questions.
- Ordinal Scale Questions.
- Interval Scale Questions.
- Ratio Scale Questions.
- Open-Ended. If you could individually interview each survey respondent, you'd probably ask a lot of open-ended questions. ...
- Closed-Ended (Static) ...
- Closed-Ended (Dynamic) ...
- Task/Activity Based.
...
Here are a few examples of questions and answers.
- What is your mother's name? Her name is Lisa.
- What time is it? It's half past four.
- What are you doing now? I'm watching TV.
As a very rough rule of thumb, 200 responses will provide fairly good survey accuracy under most assumptions and parameters of a survey project. 100 responses are probably needed even for marginally acceptable accuracy.
Is a sample size of 10 enough? ›A good maximum sample size is usually 10% as long as it does not exceed 1000. A good maximum sample size is usually around 10% of the population, as long as this does not exceed 1000. For example, in a population of 5000, 10% would be 500. In a population of 200,000, 10% would be 20,000.
How many questions are enough for a survey? ›A good questionnaire can be of 25 to 30 questions and should be able to be administered within 30 min to keep the interest and attention of the participants intact.
What are the 10 types of questions? ›- Closed questions. ...
- Open questions. ...
- Funnel questions. ...
- Leading questions. ...
- Recall and process questions. ...
- Rhetorical questions. ...
- Divergent questions. ...
- Probing questions.
...
- Origin – Where did I come from? ...
- Identity – Who am I? ...
- Purpose – Why am I here? ...
- Morality – How should we live? ...
- Destiny – Where are we going?
What are the 6 main types of survey question? ›
- Open-ended questions.
- Closed-ended questions.
- Nominal questions.
- Likert scale questions.
- Rating scale (or ordinal) questions.
- 'Yes' or 'no' questions.
Namely, 3 C's stand for corporation, customer and competitors that are known as elements of strategic triangle.
What are good survey questions for students? ›- Rank this year's lessons from easiest to hardest.
- How much time do you spend on homework every night?
- Which classroom activities do you learn from the most?
- What are three things that can improve the class most?
- Rate your teacher.
- Online Surveys. Online surveys are one of the most popular types of surveys and for good reason. ...
- Paper Surveys. ...
- Mail Surveys. ...
- Telephone Surveys. ...
- In-Person Surveys. ...
- Panel Surveys. ...
- Focus Group Surveys.
Sample Questions | Short Answer (Affirmative) | Short Answer (Negative) |
---|---|---|
Do I need a dictionary? | Yes, you do. | No, you don't. |
Do you both speak English? | Yes, we do. | No, we don't. |
Do they speak English? | Yes, they do. | No, they don't. |
Does he speak English? | Yes, he does. | No, he doesn't. |
- What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?
- If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
- What's one of the most fun childhood memories you have?
- If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
- Do you eat or drink soup?
- How many pairs of shoes do you own?
- What is the best gift you have ever received?
- If you were a superhero, what powers would you want to have?
- What is your favorite animal?
- What's your favorite family recipe?
- Simple random sampling. Simple random sampling is the purest type of probability sampling. ...
- Systematic sampling. ...
- Stratified sampling. ...
- Cluster sampling. ...
- Multistage sampling. ...
- Convenience sampling. ...
- Quota sampling. ...
- Judgment/purposive sampling.
A good questionnaire should be valid, reliable, clear, succinct and interesting. It is important to design the questionnaire based on a conceptual framework, scrutinise each question for relevance and clarity, and think of the analysis you are going to perform at the end of the day.
What is a good survey response? ›So, what is a good survey response rate? Factors that impact this include, how engaged your customers are with your brand, and whether you're delivering surveys in a way that's easy for them. Nevertheless, a good survey response rate ranges between 5% and 30%. An excellent response rate is 50% or higher.
What is the best response scale for survey? ›
There's more variance in larger scales, which has made the Likert scale the most common survey scale. Dr. Rob Balon advises to “always use the 1–5 scale, with 5 being the positive end and 1 being the negative end.
Is 30 a good sample size? ›A sample size of 30 is fairly common across statistics. A sample size of 30 often increases the confidence interval of your population data set enough to warrant assertions against your findings. 4 The higher your sample size, the more likely the sample will be representative of your population set.
How do you determine how many samples you need? ›- Define population size or number of people.
- Designate your margin of error.
- Determine your confidence level.
- Predict expected variance.
- Finalize your sample size.
The effective sample size (ESS) is an estimate of the sample size required to achieve the same level of precision if that sample was a simple random sample. Mathematically, it is defined as n/D, where n is the sample size and D is the design effect. It is used as a way of summarizing the amount of information in data.
What is survey sample size? ›What is sample size? Sample size is the number of completed responses your survey receives. It's called a sample because it only represents part of the group of people (or target population) whose opinions or behavior you care about.
How many questions is a 3 minute survey? ›The length for a typical online survey is 15 to 20 questions. While that might sound like a small number of questions, an online survey with 15 to 20 questions will take respondents 3 to 5 minutes to complete. There is some wiggle room, but take caution before increasing the number of questions in an online survey.
How many questions can you ask in a 15 minute survey? ›15-minute survey: 30 to 45 questions
For most surveys, 20 minutes is about the maximum you can go before respondent attention lags and data quality deteriorates.
A survey response rate of 50% or higher should be considered excellent in most circumstances. A high response rate is likely driven by high levels of motivation to complete the survey, or a strong personal relationship between business and customer. Survey response rates in the 5% to 30% range are far more typical.
Is 20 questions a yes or no question? ›Only 20 questions are allowed, each phrased so that it may be answered “yes” or “no.” The winner is the person who guesses the correct answer; if there is no correct guess, the answerer is the winner. The game may be played one against all or between two opposing teams.
How do you ask a smart question? ›- Think about what you already know. Reviewing your existing knowledge on a subject can help you pinpoint any gaps. ...
- Confirm what you want to learn. ...
- Create a draft of your questions. ...
- Refine your questions. ...
- Ensure simplicity. ...
- Ask your questions confidently and politely.
What are the best types of questions? ›
- Closed questions (aka the 'Polar' question) ...
- Open questions. ...
- Probing questions. ...
- Leading questions. ...
- Loaded questions. ...
- Funnel questions. ...
- Recall and process questions. ...
- Rhetorical questions.
Ask the right question: Who, What, Why, When, Where, How, How Much? - Consultant's Mind. These 7 key questions are a great checklist, but also a sanity check.
What are the golden questions? ›WHAT ARE 'GOLDEN QUESTIONS'? Golden questions are the smallest number of survey questions that can be used to reproduce market segments previously created from longer lists of questions.
What is an example of a type of survey? ›The 10 most common survey methods are online surveys, in-person interviews, focus groups, panel sampling, telephone surveys, post-call surveys, mail-in surveys, pop-up surveys, mobile surveys, and kiosk surveys.
What are the 7 steps to creating a good survey? ›- Set your objectives.
- Write your survey questions (the right way)
- Test internally and then on a pilot group.
- Deploy the survey to members.
- Collect responses.
- Analyze the responses.
- Act on the results.
To avoid this pitfall, it's important to identify your main objective and your target audience before doing anything else. At most, a survey consists of three parts: the introduction, the questions themselves, and the conclusion.
What are the 4 main ways to conduct a survey? ›Conducting the Survey. The four main ways to conduct surveys are through in-person interviews, by telephone, through the mail, and over the Internet. As with other aspects of survey design, the choice depends on both the researcher's goals and the budget.
What are the 4 steps of a survey? ›- Step one: create the questions.
- Step two: ask the questions.
- Step three: tally the results.
- Step four: present the results.
- Question #1: What was the purpose of your visit today? ...
- Question #2: Were you able to complete the purpose of your visit today? ...
- Question #3: What other products or services should we offer? ...
- Question #4: Where exactly did you first find out about us?
Generally, questions that start with “what” are good, non-biased open-ended questions. For example “What did you think of today's workshop?” or “What would you like to learn more about?” allow the respondent to answer without being influenced by the person asking the question.
What are warm up questions in a survey? ›
Part 3: Warm-Up Questions
Asking general questions before specific questions is sometimes called the funnel technique. The goal of the research in part to is to "warm up" the respondent. Tough questions and questions that can cause embarrassment are saved until the end of the questionnaire.
What are the 5Essentials and 5Essentials Survey? 5Essentials is an evidence-based system designed to drive improvement in schools nationwide—it reliably measures changes in a school organization through the 5Essentials Survey and provides individualized, actionable Reports for each school.
What is a 5 point survey? ›A 5-point Likert scale is a psychometric response method where respondents can easily answer questions and state their level of agreement in five points. The 5-point Likert scale consists of the below points – (1) Strongly Disagree; (2) Disagree; (3) Neither Agree nor Disagree; (4) Agree; (5) Strongly Agree.
What are the most common tools used in survey? ›- Chains and Tapes. Taking accurate measurements is one of the most important tasks a land surveyor must complete. ...
- Compasses and Clinometers. ...
- Transits and Theodolites. ...
- Levels. ...
- Safety Gear. ...
- Prisms and Reflectors. ...
- Magnetic Locators. ...
- Poles, Tripods, and Mounts.
Exploratory, descriptive, and causal are the three main types used in survey research. It helps to familiarize yourself with these types before designing your survey research.
What are the 3 types of questions? ›THREE TYPES OF QUESTIONS: 1. Factual 2. Interpretive 3. Evaluative Page 5 FACTUAL QUESTIONS Page 6 FACTUAL QUESTIONS Everyone will eventually agree on the answer.
What is the best survey method? ›In-person interviews are by far the most personable approach and can create trust and cooperation from respondents. The best interviewers will be able to read non-verbal cues to better direct the interview. It is also the best way to perform interviews that may involve sensitive topics.
What's a good question to ask? ›- Who is your hero?
- If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
- What is your biggest fear?
- What is your favorite family vacation?
- What would you change about yourself if you could?
- What really makes you angry?
- What motivates you to work hard?
Questions that cannot be answered with "yes" or "no" usually begin with an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun: when, what, where, who, whom, whose, why, which, or how.