10 Top Tips for Designing an Online Questionnaire

Creating an excellent online questionnaire that will enable you achieve the desired results can prove to be a bit difficult when not done correctly.

Coming up with a questionnaire to be used online is quite beneficial due to the fact that it is an effective way of gathering significant information and feedback from a wide range of consumers. While designing it, it is important to make it accurate and detailed for maximum results. Some of the 10 top tips for designing an online questionnaire include:

1. Simple and short

Long and complicated questionnaires are not efficient when it comes to data collection and cause the respondents to become tired. Therefore a good online questionnaire should take no more than ten minutes to be completed.

2. Use less closed questions

These type of questions only allow a respondent to give pre-defined answers which are short and to the point. This will only end up limiting the amount of information you receive from respondents when it is actually possible to gather more.

3. One question ata time

When designing an online questionnaire, the leading mistake the people make is combining multiple questions into one. This can cause the respondent to become confused and will in turn, affect the quality of their answers.

4. Use of unbiased questions

Avoid biased questions since they tend to annoy respondents and may prevent them from sharing their own opinion without being influenced.

5. Avoid being vague

Avoid questions that can be misinterpreted as this may cause respondents to give answers which are not within context. In order to get the kind of response that you require come up with clear and simple questions.

6. Always remember the function of your questionnaire

The purpose of one questionnaire may be different from another. It is therefore important to come up with a goal; what you are looking to achieve, how the gathered information will be used and its effect on a particular service, product or organization.

7. Making use of a rating scale on your questions

These questions allow for a respondent to rate a service or product depending on the scale presented. The points presented on the rating scale should be consistent in order to avoid confusing the person taking the survey.

8. Look for a different opinion

Before launching your questionnaire, it is advisable to get an opinion from another person who is not a close friend or family member, since they can give you a biased feedback.

9. Always think like a respondent

Put yourself in the shoes of a respondent and come up with objective answers to your online questionnaire. Be your own critic.

10. Consider rewards

You can offer incentives as a way of appreciating the time taken by an individual to complete a questionnaire. This will also help to keep them motivated.