Survey Builder: Types Of Survey Questions

Surveys in Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) can be customized to include various question types, allowing you to gather valuable feedback in a format that best suits your needs. These surveys can contain a combination of different question types, be organized using survey labels, and configured with branching logic.

When creating or editing a survey, you'll notice that each question will have numeric weightings for the response options, along with additional properties selected for that question.

The following is a video overview of Survey Builder:

Note: We have updated the user interface since the creation of the video. However, the information in the video remains relevant, and this article provides more information about the feature.

Important Considerations:

  • If a question has at least one response associated with it, it cannot be deleted.
  • If a question has no responses, it can be deleted from the survey.
  • If a question has responses but needs to be updated or removed, you'll need to copy the survey, make the necessary adjustments in the new version, and use the updated survey moving forward.

Question Types

Below is a list of the different question types that can be included in your survey:

  1. Single Selection Question
  2. Multiple Selection Question
  3. Matrix Question
  4. Numeric Selection Question
  5. Open-Ended Text Response Question
  6. Survey Label
  7. Branching Question

Single Selection Question

The Single Selection question type allows respondents to choose one option from a list. It is ideal for yes/no questions or Likert scale questions. This question type can be formatted both vertically and horizontally.

A section showing a single-selection question type asking, 'How satisfied were you with this course?' with the options Very satisfied, Satisfied, Neutral, Dissatisfied, and Very dissatisfied, with 'Very satisfied' selected.

A section showing a horizontal single-selection question type asking, 'Was your instructor knowledgeable about the course content?' with Yes and No options, and the option Yes selected.

Multiple Selection Question

The Multiple Selection question type allows respondents to select multiple answers (e.g. "check all that apply" type of questions). This type is best when you want respondents to choose more than one option.

A section showing a multiple-selection question type asking, 'Which mode(s) of transportation did you utilize to commute to school? (Please select all that apply)' with the options Car, Bus, Train, Bike, Skateboard, and Walk, and the options Car, Train, and Walk are selected.

Matrix Question

The Matrix question type presents multiple items to evaluate using the same set of response options. This question format helps streamline responses when evaluating a series of items on the same scale.

A section showing a matrix question type asking, 'Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following,' with the columns Very satisfied, Satisfied, Neutral, Dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied, and N/A, and the responses marked as follows: Bookstore - Satisfied, Cafeteria - Very satisfied, Study lounges - Neutral, Gym - Satisfied, Outdoor commons - Very satisfied, and Campus WiFi - Satisfied.

Numeric Selection Question

This question type allows respondents to input a numeric value with a defined range, using a slider to make their selection.

A section showing a numeric selection question type asking, 'How many hours per week did you spend studying for this course?' with an input field set to 14 and a slider scale ranging from 0 to 40 positioned at 14.

Open-Ended Text Response Question

The Open-Ended Text Response question allows respondents to provide written comments or feedback. This type is useful when you need detailed, qualitative responses.

A section showing an open-ended text response question asking, 'Please provide any additional comments,' with a text box containing the response, 'I really enjoyed this course and instructor, but the textbook was out of date.'

Survey Label

Survey Labels are used to add text anywhere in your survey. This can include instructions, text breaks, or a thank you message at the end. You can insert these labels throughout the survey to help organize it or provide additional context to the respondents.

A label showing the message, 'Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey; your input is highly valued! Please click Submit.'

Branching Question

Questions can be set up with branching logic (also known as skip logic). Branching logic enables you to control which questions are presented to a respondent based on their previous answers. This feature allows you to tailor the survey experience, ensuring respondents only see questions that are relevant to them. To learn more about branching logic, visit: Branching Question Types.

By utilizing these different question types, you can create a well-structured and engaging survey that meets the specific needs of your project. This flexibility ensures you can gather meaningful feedback while providing an intuitive experience for respondents.

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