Top 10 Tested Tips for Designing Innovative Survey Formats

Get ready to be blown away because we’re about to dive into the fascinating world of survey formats.

Surveys have come a long way. Gone are the days of lengthy questionnaires that discourage participation rates.

There’s a whole new breed of survey formats that are making data collection faster and more efficient. No more tedious checkboxes or endless open-ended and scroll-down menus.

Picture creating dynamic and interactive surveys that grab your audience’s attention from the get-go.

Goodbye to the same old and monotonous survey formats. Say hello to engaging visuals and interactive elements that encourage participation and honest feedback.

That’s not all.

These innovative survey formats are designed to keep your audience hooked throughout the process.

With personalized and targeted questions that will make your target respondents willingly share thoughts and opinions like never before.

In this blog, you’ll learn the following:

• What is a Survey Format?
• Why is Survey Format Important?
• Why Should You Focus on Feedback Surveys?
• How Do Good Survey Formats Look Like?
• What are the Principles Of Survey Format?
• How Do You Write a Survey Format?
• How to Analyze Survey Format Data?

Before diving into the main theme, we’ll address the following: what is a survey format?

What is a Survey Format?

When gathering data, survey formats play a crucial role.

But what is a survey format?

It refers to the structure and design of a survey questionnaire.

In other words, it’s the blueprint that determines how questions are presented, the order in which they appear, and the overall layout of the survey.

Think of it as the framework that shapes the entire survey-taking experience.

Why does the format even matter?

A well-designed survey format can make a world of difference in terms of:

• User engagement
• Response rates
• Data quality

Imagine you’re a target respondent. You’ve just received an invitation to participate in a survey. The questionnaire handed to you has no clear organization or visual appeal.

It would be overwhelming, right?

This is where a carefully crafted survey format comes in.

It creates a user-friendly and visually pleasing experience that keeps your audience interested.

So, what makes a great survey format?

It depends on the nature of the survey and your target audience. Some surveys need a more conversational tone, while others might require a more formal approach.

The key is to strike a balance between simplicity and your overall goal.

In the last few years, survey formats have evolved beyond the traditional multiple-choice questions.

There’re interactive and dynamic formats that incorporate multimedia elements, such as images, videos, and sliders.

This makes the survey-taking experience more engaging and interactive.

Why is Survey Format Important?

Survey formats play a major role in shaping the quality of data collected and the overall experience of your respondents.

A well-designed format is a secret sauce that ensures clarity, consistency, and ease of completion by your target audience.

A thoughtfully crafted survey format reduces confusion and potential bias in responses.  Also, it helps create a logical flow and organizes questions effectively.

When everything is structured and organized, the treasure trove of insights you can extract are on a whole new level.

A clear and user-friendly survey format actually boosts response rates.

If participants find a survey easy to navigate and understand, they’re more likely to complete it.

Next time you’re designing a survey, pay close attention to the format. Make it engaging, and user-friendly.

Why Should You Focus on Feedback Surveys?

Below are some compelling reasons why incorporating feedback surveys into your business process is a game-changer:

• There will always be feedback

Feedback surveys provide a platform for understanding your customers or employees.

For example, using a user-friendly survey platform like Google Forms empowers you to gain deeper insights into your target audience’s needs and preferences.

• Every feedback matters equally

Make your respondents feel valued and appreciated.

Ensure they’re aware their feedback is highly valuable to your brand. By acknowledging their input, you not only foster a sense of loyalty but also drive your brand’s continuous improvement.

• Feedback drives change

When you ask for feedback, you invite your target audience to be an integral part of the process that drives change.

By involving them in your strategies, you not only strengthen your relationship with them but also create a culture of continuous improvement.

• Negative feedback promotes growth

Embracing negative feedback allows you to make informed decisions.

Use negative feedback as an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and enhance your brand’s performance.

• Feedback is a continuous process

Feedback surveys are not a one-time event.

They’re an ongoing process of learning. By engaging your target audience, you can gather valuable information that can fuel innovation.

How Do Good Survey Formats Look Like?

What’s the secret sauce to killer survey formats?

A good survey format is all about making it easy for your target respondents to navigate and complete the survey. It should be organized and visually appealing.

Secondly, present your survey questions logically to create a smooth flow from one question to the next. This will help take your participants on a guided journey, making it effortless for them to respond.

Engagement is key. A good survey format incorporates various question types to keep people hooked. From multiple-choice to rating scales and Likert Scale questions, the variety helps you capture different perspectives.

Let’s not forget about mobile responsiveness.

In this digital age, expect your target audience to complete surveys on their smartphones and tablets. So, a good survey format should be mobile-friendly. This will ensure your survey functions flawlessly across different devices.

What are the Principles Of Survey Format?

Designing a survey format that hits the mark can seem daunting.

However, we’ve got you covered with these 5 essential tips.

• Clarity and simplicity

Ensure your questions are clear and easy to understand.

Stick to plain language and avoid complex terms that might confuse respondents. Keep it concise and focused on one topic.

• Logical flow

Arrange your questions in a logical sequence.

Start with general or introductory questions. Gradually move towards more specific or complex ones. This will help keep your respondents engaged.

• Visual organization

Use headings, subheadings, and sections to structure your survey visually.

Group related questions together. This will make it easier for your respondents to find and answer questions.

• Consistency in formatting

Maintain consistent formatting throughout your survey.

This will enhance visual coherence and give your survey a professional and user-friendly look.

• Appropriate question types

Choose survey format questions that align with your goals and objectives.

Mix closed-ended questions (multiple choice, rating scales) with open-ended questions. This will help you to gather both quantitative and qualitative data.

How Do You Write a Survey Format?

To create a survey format that hits the mark, follow the simple steps below:

• Define your objectives

Outline the purpose of your survey and the data you aim to gather.

This will serve as your guiding light during the survey format design process.

• Identify the target audience

Get to know your audience.

Also, understand their demographics, interests, and behaviors. These insights will help tailor your survey format to their preferences and needs.

• Choose a survey tool

Select a reliable and user-friendly survey tool that suits your needs. Popular online options include Google and Microsoft Forms.

• Select question types

Choose appropriate survey question types for collecting data.

Common options include multiple-choice, rating scales, Likert Scales, etc.

• Include skip logic or branching

Personalize your target audience’s survey experience by using skip logic or branching.

This will help direct your respondents to specific questions based on their previous answers.

How to Analyze Survey Format Data?

Once you’ve gathered all the valuable insights through your survey format, the next step is to analyze it for insights.

While tools like Excel have been traditionally relied upon for organizing data, they fall short in survey-based analysis.

There’s an exciting solution that can take your survey data analysis to a whole new level. It’s called ChartExpo.

ChartExpo is not your ordinary tool.

You heard that right.

It’s a powerful Excel add-in that will revolutionize how you analyze your survey data.

With its user-friendly interface and a wide range of survey-based charts, ChartExpo effortlessly transforms survey responses into compelling narratives.

You don’t need to be a coding genius to use ChartExpo’s features. It’s designed to be intuitive and accessible to all users, regardless of technical expertise.

One of ChartExpo’s standout features is the Likert Scale Chart. This chart acts as a magnifying glass, allowing you to dive deep into your survey data for hidden insights.

Try ChartExpo’s free 7-day trial and experience its full potential. After the trial period, you’ll only be charged a modest $10 per month.

Example #1

Let’s imagine you run a company. You want to know whether your team is committed and engaged in achieving your business goals.

You’ve organized a survey to gather first-hand feedback from your team and used the sample questions below.

• Was the training venue suitable enough?
• Was the training material and content helpful to you?
• Was the trainer engaging and supportive?
• Was the training at a comfortable pace?

Let’s imagine you’ll use the following answer options in your survey format.

1. Strongly Disagree
2. Disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Agree
5. Strongly Agree

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel

In the coming section, we’ll use ChartExpo, and sample data to demonstrate how you can leverage a Likert Scale Chart to visualize your data using your chosen survey format.

Before we dive into this, we’ll show you how to install ChartExpo in Excel.

To get started with ChartExpo in Excel, follow the steps below:

• Open your Microsoft Excel.
• Open the worksheet and click the Insert button to access the My Apps

• Click the Insert button to initiate the ChartExpo engine.

• Click the Search box and type “Likert Scale Chart.”

• Highlight your data and click the Create Chart From Selection button, as shown below.

• Use the multiple-choice responses you deployed in your survey to gather responses to map your Likert Scale Chart.

In our case we’ll use the following multiple-choice responses:

• • Strongly Disagree=1
  • Disagree=2
  • Neither agree nor disagree=3
  • Agree=4
  • Strongly Agree=5

• Click the Create Chart button, as shown above.

• To add the chart header, click the Edit Chart
• Once the Chart Header Properties window shows, fill in your header in Line 1, as shown.

• Toggle the small button below Line 2 to the right side to activate the header.
• Click the Apply button, as shown above.

• To edit the legend properties, click the pencil-like icon on the X-axis.
• Once the Legend Properties window shows, fill in your legend below the Text
• Click the Apply All button, as shown above.

• Click the Save Changes button to preserve all the changes.
• Check out the final Likert Scale chart below.

Insights:

Below’s a breakdown of what the chart above is revealing.

• Half of the employees (50%), agreed that the pace of the training sessions is good. Interestingly, 35% agreed wholeheartedly. On the other hand, 15% remained neutral on this matter.
• On the issue of the level of support provided by the training sessions, a solid 65% of employees agreed they felt supported. 25% agreed to a lesser extent. Only 10% chose not to answer this question.
• Regarding the training content, 45% of employees found it helpful. However, 40% expressed dissatisfaction with the content, while 15% remained neutral on this aspect.
• Moving on to the training hall environment, 70% agreed that the space was comfortable. Nonetheless, 20% did not agree, and 10% chose to remain neutral.

FAQs:

What are the methods of survey format?

Some common methods of survey format include online surveys, paper-based surveys, phone surveys, and face-to-face interviews.

Each method offers unique advantages and can be chosen based on the target audience.

What are examples of survey format types?

Examples of survey format types include Likert scale surveys, multiple-choice surveys, and rating scale surveys.

These formats allow you to collect different data types and gain insights.

Choosing the right survey format depends on the data you want to gather.

Wrap Up:

In conclusion, survey formats play a crucial role in gathering valuable data for further analysis.

In other words, they provide a structured approach to collecting and analyzing data. This allows you to make informed decisions and drive positive change.

With the help of user-friendly tools like ChartExpo, visualizing your data using visually appealing charts and graphs is now faster.

A well-designed survey format ensures clarity, engages your participants, and encourages honest and accurate responses.

So, if you want to make the most of your survey data, try  ChartExpo.

With its user-friendly interface and diverse survey-friendly chart options, you can present your data story compellingly.

Start creating impactful surveys today. Sign up for a free 7-day trial.