We live in an age where data is a source of capital. Surveys have been an effective way of gathering data for the past couple of centuries. Despite being a common practice for hundreds of years, surveys still struggle to yield constructive and clear-cut results. To avoid mistakes while constructing a questionnaire, you must know how to ask the right questions. Writing good survey questions is the way to acquire valuable data.
On the other hand, crafting wrong questions can compromise your efforts and possibly distort the results, thus derailing the survey’s purpose. A poorly constructed questionnaire can impede the efficiency of gathering statistics and facts and put off potential participants.
This is where SurveyPoint comes into play. Survey creation requires both art and science. Fortunately, we have a raft of features to ensure a seamless experience. Sign up for Free to start collecting feedback today!
Here are the seven bizarre yet recurring mistakes people make while creating survey questions:
Asking Leading Questions
Little phrase variations might have a big impact on the outcome. It involves framing questions in a manner that sways a participant’s response in favour of a particular point of view. For instance, vague terms and concepts might add a certain amount of perplexing ambiguity to your survey.
They can be perceived as manipulative, creating a bias in the respondent’s minds. Ensure that your questions are objective to avoid asking leading questions, as they are often unintentional.
You might also be interested in reading: Biases in Surveys: What You Need to Know
Asking Questions Addressing Everyone
You might be tempted to get as many answers as you can. However, verifying that the survey’s responses are relevant would be best.
For instance, asking every visitor leaving an e-commerce website why they didn’t make a purchase doesn’t make much sense. Individuals who have made purchases will be perplexed by the survey, and you will come off as unprofessional.
Similarly, failing to personalise your queries contextually can be expensive and come across as intrusive. To understand a lead’s buying process, you can use customised surveys.
Use Of Jargon (Complicated Language)
Simple, straightforward questions are the best way to gather precise information. Using clear, uncomplicated language will reduce time and make answering questions easier.
Excessively using complex language, acronyms and jargon confuse the respondent. However, sometimes, it is impossible to avoid using technical terms. If this is the case, make sure you define or break down the concept for the participant so they can understand it better.
Asking Double-Barreled Questions
Double-barreled questions are questions that propel the participant to answer two questions at once. These are complex questions involving more than one concern. By asking two questions in the same sentence, you limit a respondent’s ability to respond accurately to either question. A single question with two subjects leads to confusing and difficult-to-interpret results. The key here is to focus on asking one question at a time.
You might also be interested in reading: The Secret To Garner High Responses
Asking Too Many Questions
Be sure not to make the survey too long. Sometimes the sheer number of questions can be intimidating and deter people from wanting to participate in your survey. Respondents may give up midway through a survey if there are too many questions. Hence, try not to add any questions irrelevant to the study’s primary objective to prevent this from happening.
Not Including The Introduction
No matter the audience, a survey’s introduction is essential to persuade visitors to complete the survey. According to data from millions of user surveys, a strong introduction contributes to higher engagement and completion rates.
Unless you explain why you are asking your respondents, they might feel compelled to ignore you or suspicious of you. Briefly describe the survey’s goal in concise, uncomplicated language.
Providing Too Many Answer Choices
Do you know what is referred to as the “choice dilemma“? It’s about all those shoppers you frequently see at the grocery store who are perplexedly staring at a shelf full of white rice because they are unsure which brand to pick.
In general, giving response options for a particular topic is a good idea, but offering too many choices can overwhelm your visitors and make things more difficult. The same is true of your study of the post-survey data.
In a Nutshell
Well-crafted questions and coherent answer choices are essential for obtaining reliable feedback.
Ensure that your questions are understandable and that your answer choices are appropriate, relevant, and complete. Successful research depends on good questions and good answer options.
Overall, a well-thought-out survey plan enables you to accomplish two goals at once:
“Your responses are not only highly relevant, but you can also utilize surveys to target your optimal audiences.”
It’s all done in a subdued, organic way that only speaks to the motivations of your prospects. Who wouldn’t like a slice of that cake?
Heena Shah – Content Writer at Sambodhi
