From the Studio

6 Tips for Writing Better Survey and Poll Questions

Poorly phrased questions can lead to misleading data and frustrated respondents. To help you stay ahead of the curve in 2024, we’ve put together the best tips on how you can improve your surveys and polls to make sure you get the best feedback.
July 27, 2024 by raddstudio
4 months

1. Be Clear and Concise

Why It Matters: Clarity ensures that respondents understand the questions, leading to more accurate answers.

Tips:

  • Use Simple Language: Avoid jargon and complex words. Aim for simplicity to ensure every respondent understands the question.
  • Be Specific: General questions can be interpreted in various ways. Be precise about what you’re asking to get the most relevant responses.
  • Keep It Short: Long, rambling questions can confuse respondents. Keep your questions as brief as possible while retaining clarity.


2. Avoid Leading Questions

Why It Matters: Leading questions can bias responses, resulting in skewed data.

Tips:

  • Stay Neutral: Phrase your questions in a way that doesn’t suggest a particular answer. For example, instead of “Don’t you think our product is great?” ask, “How would you rate our product?”
  • Avoid Emotional Language: Words that evoke strong emotions can influence responses. Stick to neutral terms.


3. Use Balanced Answer Options

Why It Matters: Balanced answer options provide a full spectrum of choices, giving you more accurate data.

Tips:

  • Include All Possible Answers: Ensure your answer choices cover all possible responses. If unsure, include an “Other” option with space for respondents to elaborate.
  • Avoid Yes/No When Possible: Yes/No questions are limiting. When appropriate, use scales or multiple-choice questions to gather more nuanced data.


4. Make Use of Open-Ended Questions

Why It Matters: Open-ended questions allow respondents to express their thoughts in their own words, providing deeper insights.

Tips:

  • Use Sparingly: While open-ended questions are valuable, they require more effort to analyze. Use them selectively to gather qualitative data.
  • Ask for Specifics: Encourage detailed responses by asking specific questions. For example, “What features do you like about our product?” rather than “What do you think?”


5. Ensure Question Relevance

Why It Matters: Irrelevant questions can frustrate respondents and lead to survey abandonment.

Tips:
Focus on Your Goals: Only include questions that help you achieve your survey’s objectives. Irrelevant questions dilute the quality of your data.
  • Segment Your Audience: Tailor questions to different segments of your audience to ensure relevance. For instance, ask different questions to new customers versus long-time users.


6. Use a Logical Flow

Why It Matters: A logical flow keeps respondents engaged and makes the survey easier to complete.

Tips:

  • Start Easy: Begin with simple, non-intrusive questions to build momentum.
  • Group Similar Questions: Group related questions together to make the survey feel cohesive.
  • Use Skip Logic: For longer surveys, use skip logic to show respondents only the questions that apply to them, reducing survey fatigue.



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