How to Develop a Survey Online
Taking a survey online is an efficient way of garnering feedback and gathering information. Many households have Internet access and email, and most schools and libraries provide a computer lab or room with Internet access. Teachers and schools can incorporate student and parent surveys in regular email communications to engage participation. Some advanced ways to use survey applications include testing because scoring is automated through the service. Online survey applications and services are available with basic functionality for free accounts. Results can be accessed as a spreadsheet or document to review responses.
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Instructions
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1
Write down the user information and questions you want to ask. Keep in mind that questions should be brief so that users can complete the survey efficiently.
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2
Review the list and include choices for questions where appropriate. Organize the questions into sections containing approximately five questions.
For example:
Section "User information" contains "First name," Last name" and other contact information.
Topics contains a list of predefined topics.
Section "Your opinion" contains questions that can be answered with a star rating or numerical rating. -
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3
Log into your account for an online survey application, such as SurveyMonkey or SurveyGizmo. See Resources for online survey applications to register for an account, if needed.
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4
Click the button, "Create Survey."
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5
Select the design and survey template.
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6
Click the button, "Add Text," "Add Question" or "Begin," and type instructional or descriptive text for the first survey page.
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7
Click the "Add Page" button, if desired, to start a new survey page to help users move through each section. Click the "Add Question" button and select the type of question (e.g., text box, radio buttons, check boxes, drop-down menus).
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8
Type your question in the space provided and type your predefined options in the rows provided, for radio button, check box or drop-down menu selections.
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9
Click the "Save" button and repeat Steps 7 and 8 to enter your questions.
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10
Click the "Preview" button to review a sample of your completed survey. Click the "Close" or "Return" button to return to your survey to make edits or corrections.
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11
Click the button, "Publish" when you are satisfied with your survey and it is ready to launch.
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12
Copy and paste the unique survey URL to send to others to access the survey.
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Tips & Warnings
Cut and paste your questions from a computer document to speed up inputting questions and text.
Consider reviewing the tutorials that many online survey applications provide to new accounts to glean tips and advanced functions such as personalization.
Consider the testing and scoring capabilities in your online survey tool to add a new twist to quizzes and homework, and streamlining your test grading process.
If available, use an email broadcast tool included in the application to write an email with link for your survey . The email list must be imported before the survey application transmits the email.
Avoid spamming recipients. Emails should be sent to recipients who have agreed to receive such communications.
