Monthly Archives: November 2011

How to Choose Colors for Your Survey Template

Most survey design software platforms allow you to decide how you would like your survey customized. While for many this may seem like an afterthought, several studies have shown that the aesthetic design of a survey can affect the outcome, so choosing the right design qualities is going to be an important part of getting good research. Read more…

5 Thoughts on Adding Video to Your Survey

Does video have its place in surveys? Sure – depending on the type of research, sample, etc., there is easily a good reason or two to integrate video. But you need to truly have that reason. Adding video because the technology is available is likely to do more harm than good to your research. Read more…

3 Ways to Use Social Media

Social media does appear to be overrated from a business perspective, simply because there are far too many companies that view social media sites as the true pulse of the community. But while they are likely being used too often in ways they are not meant to be used, they do have their value, and the above list represents three potential ways your company can use social media effectively. Read more…

Do Twitter or Facebook Represent Useful Data Analysis?

Not all social media is used by regular people. Many businesses, including spammers, use social media to market their products, con people into paying more money, etc. These people may easily look like regular users and may say things about your product that are not representative of the truth, only to try to market their own products instead. Read more…

3 Other Potential Problems of a Long Survey

While it would be useful if respondents were willing to put careful thought and consideration into each answer, the reality is that a long survey tends to yield less accurate results. On occasion a long survey may be necessary, but there is also no denying that long surveys have an impact on your sample. Try to reduce the number of questions on a survey and you are far more likely to get accurate responses. Read more…

Survey Design Note: Don’t Switch Your Scales

Always be as consistent as possible within your survey, and unless there is a dire need, never switch your scales. If you need to analyze the data differently, switch the data after it is collected, and try your best to keep your survey consistent. Read more…

How to Improve Response Rate to Receipt Transactional Surveys

If you want transaction surveys to be valuable to your company, you need to work on finding ways to get customers to complete them. An introduction at the bottom of the receipt is not enough. Focus on incentives and find ways to encourage customers to complete the survey.
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Do Not Use Your Surveys to Justify Pre-Determined Positions

Research needs to be objective. While the researcher may have an expectation about the results of the survey (and indeed, a great deal of research is completed where the researcher has a pretty good guess what the outcome will be), they cannot be using the research to justify a decision they’ve already made in their minds. If they do, they are likely to alter the results of the survey and yield data that isn’t indicative to the feelings of the population. Read more…

3 Tips for Drafting a Pre-Survey Email

Most well run online surveys rely on email to reach their potential sample. They send an email asking the person to take the survey, and maybe send a reminder or two later. It’s been found that pre-survey emails are a good way to warm the audience up to the idea of taking a survey. These emails are sent before the survey is active, and are meant to help improve response rate. But pre-survey emails need to be carefully designed. Here are several tips for creating a pre-survey email. Read more…

Can The Benefits of The Survey to Your Company Decrease Responses From Particular Group?

Many market researchers are told that they need to make sure the customer knows how and why the survey will benefit them if they complete it. First and foremost is the incentive, which gives the sample a reason to care about the survey at all. But sometimes companies also explain why their answers will benefit the company itself, which in turn should benefit the customer. That should, cognitively, get customers to provide a higher response rate to your survey. Read more…