Survey Design Best Practices

Designing an effective survey is crucial for gathering reliable and actionable data. Here are seven best practices to consider:

1. Use Simple Language: Keep your language clear and direct. Avoid jargon, technical terms, or long-winded phrasing — your goal is to be understood at a glance. 
2. Balance Question Types: Mix open- and closed-ended questions to keep surveys engaging and manageable. Open-ends are great for depth, but try to keep them to 20–30% of your survey to avoid participant fatigue. 
3. Design for Honest Answers: People tend to say what they think you want to hear — it’s called acquiescence bias. Avoid yes/no questions and leading language. Instead, offer balanced response options that reflect a range of perspectives and encourage real input. 

4. Keep Questions Focused: Stick to one idea per question. Double-barreled questions (e.g., “How satisfied are you with the price and quality?”) confuse respondents and muddle your data.

5. Include “None,” “Other,” or Opt-Outs: Give people room to say “this doesn’t apply to me.” Including options like “None of the above” or “Other” keeps your data cleaner and more inclusive.

6. Test Before You Launch: Run through your survey in Preview Mode or pilot it with a few testers. You’ll catch broken logic, confusing wording, or formatting issues before they affect your data.

7. Handle Sensitive Questions Carefully: Place sensitive or personal questions toward the end of your survey, make them optional, and be clear about confidentiality. Trust leads to better answers.

Adhering to these guidelines will enhance your survey’s clarity and effectiveness, leading to more accurate and meaningful data collection.