What is the Difference Between a Questionnaire and Survey?

A questionnaire is a series of questions that are asked in order to obtain specific information. It is often used for market research or other exploratory studies. On the other hand, a survey is more in-depth and typically asks one or more open-ended questions which gather opinions, attitudes, and beliefs. Survey responses can be analyzed to draw conclusions and gain insights into behaviors, trends, and attitudes.

When Should You Use a Questionnaire?

Questionnaires are best suited for research studies that are focused on collecting data quickly and efficiently, without the need for in-depth or open-ended responses. They typically consist of close-ended questions that measure qualities such as demographic information, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, knowledge, and preferences. Therefore, questionnaires are ideal for collecting generalizable data from a large sample size.

When Should You Use a Survey?

Surveys differ from questionnaires in that they tend to be more comprehensive, often containing open-ended questions that require participants to elaborate or provide more detailed answers. These are ideal for studies that require in-depth, descriptive responses, such as customer satisfaction or market research. With surveys, you can also include different types of scales, from Likert scales to Guttman scales, which allow you to measure quantitative variables with greater accuracy and specificity than a questionnaire.

How to Design an Effective Questionnaire

When it comes to creating an effective questionnaire or survey, you’ll want to focus on layout and design. You should make sure that your questions are organized in a clear and logical manner, and that they are easy to understand. Additionally, make sure you use simple language, avoid using jargon or technical terms, and give adequate response choices for each question. Additionally, ask participants if they need extra time to answer any questions, so they feel comfortable responding thoughtfully.

Using Automation to Streamline Your Data Collection Process.

Automation can help streamline your data collection process, so you don’t have to spend hours combing through and manually entering data. You can partner with a market research company such as My View Research, to gain a wide variety of solutions that can be used for creating surveys and questionnaires. Most of these solutions offer automated data collection, analysis, and visualization. This will enable you to quickly see trends or insights by applying interactive visualisations and easily deciphering the results.

Find out more.

Speak to one of our Research Consultants to find out which method of research is right for your business.

Complete the form below and we will be in touch!