Whether you're collecting data on user satisfaction, preferences, or pain points, the way questions are framed can significantly influence the quality of the feedback you receive.
Well-designed survey questions should be clear, focused, and free of bias to avoid skewing the results.
In this article, we will explore best practices for writing questions to ensure the responses you receive are meaningful and accurate.
Advice on Writing Survey Questions
Use Everyday Language
Keep the language simple and familiar.
Before: How would you evaluate your contentment with the experience?
After: Rate your satisfaction with the experience.
Be Specific
Vague questions can lead to vague answers. Focus on specifics to get detailed responses.
Before: Do you shop online?
After: How often do you purchase clothes online?
Break Down Complex Questions
Large, multi-faceted questions should be split into smaller, more digestible parts.
Before: How satisfied or unsatisfied are you with our customer service?
After: 1. How would you rate our customer service response time? 2. How would you rate the helpfulness of our customer service?
Avoid Leading Questions
Ensure questions remain neutral to avoid skewing responses.
Before: How frustrating was the website navigation?
After: What, if anything, was frustrating about the website navigation?
Avoid Asking Multiple Things at Once
Focus on one topic at a time for clarity.
Before: How would you rate our product catalogue and our website's ease of use?
After: Please rate the following factors on a scale on 1 to 10, where 1 is Extremely unsatisfied and 10 is Extremely satisfied. 1. Product catalogue 2. Website usability
Adhering to best practices for writing survey questions—using simple language, being specific, and avoiding leading questions— can increase the chances of getting valuable insights, helping you make data-driven decisions that improve the user experience.