Skip to main content

Best Practices

Best Practices Best Practices Tips & Traps in Survey Development

Tips for Writing a Good Survey​

  • Be Specific Formulate questions that focus on particular details to obtain accurate and clear responses.
  • Keep Questions Clear and Simple Use straightforward language to ensure respondents easily understand the questions.
  • Use First-Person Perspective Frame questions using “I” or “my” to make respondents feel more connected and engaged.
  • Use Neutral Language Avoid emotionally charged or biased wording to ensure impartiality in responses.
  • Offer Balanced Answer Choices and Provide Alternative Answers Present a range of answer options that fairly represent all possible views, including “Other” or “Not Applicable.”
  • Use Closed-Ended Questions for Quantitative Data Employ yes/no or multiple-choice questions to gather measurable data.
  • Include Open-Ended Questions for Qualitative Insights Allow respondents to provide detailed, narrative answers for deeper understanding.
  • Use Logical Flow Arrange questions in a coherent sequence to facilitate a natural progression of thought.
  • Provide Clear Instructions and Deadline for Data Collection Offer explicit guidelines on how to complete the survey and specify the completion deadline.
  • Be Mindful of the Length Keep the survey brief to enhance respondent engagement and improve completion rates.
  • Ensure Accessibility-Friendly Surveys Create surveys that are easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities, by using clear fonts and sufficient color contrast.
  • Keep Scales Consistent Use the same rating scale throughout the survey to avoid confusion and ensure reliability.
  • Show Progress Bar Include a progress indicator to inform respondents how much of the survey remains.
  • Limit Required Questions Minimize the number of mandatory questions to reduce pressure and encourage completion.
  • Incorporate Visual Communication Use images, icons, or graphs to enhance understanding and make the survey more engaging.
  • Pilot Test the Survey Conduct a trial run with a small group to identify issues and refine questions.
  • Plan Reminders and Use Incentives Schedule reminders and offer incentives to boost response rates and encourage timely participation.

Traps to Avoid When Writing a Survey​

  • Avoid Leading, Loaded, and Hypothetical Questions Eliminate questions that may bias responses or require respondents to speculate about future actions.
  • Avoid Biased or Emotional Language Use neutral language that does not sway respondents' opinions or feelings.
  • Avoid Double-Barreled and Redundant Questions Ensure each question addresses only one topic to avoid confusion and unnecessary repetition.
  • Avoid Assumptive and Vague Questions Phrase questions in a way that does not make unwarranted assumptions about respondents’ situations or experiences.
  • Avoid Grids or Matrices for Responses Don’t use complicated response formats that might confuse respondents.