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5 best practices to design your survey
5 best practices to design your survey

Whether you’re running an internal initiative or going door-to-door in your community, follow these tips to create an effective survey.

Florent Barre avatar
Written by Florent Barre
Updated over a month ago

📋 Create Surveys That Deliver Results

Before reading our best practices, make sure you know how to create your survey on the Qomon web platform!


1. Be clear and neutral

Craft straightforward, unbiased questions to gather accurate insights.

  • Use simple, accessible language.
    What R.O.I. do you expect from your financial contribution?
    What benefits do you expect from your financial contribution?

  • Avoid biased wording or strong connotations.
    Do you think the new legislation is an example of the nanny state?
    Do you think the new legislation is a good government intervention?

  • Be concise and avoid influencing answers with extra information or negative framing.

    ❌ How do you feel about organic food labels, which are very difficult for small farmers to obtain?

    ✅ What is your opinion on organic food labels and what farmers need to do to obtain them?


2. Keep It Conversational

Remember that your surveys are delivered in-person, so make them feel natural.

  • Start with an easy ice-breaker question.

  • Organize questions logically and minimize their number.

  • Group by topic and vary question types to maintain engagement.

  • Save creative or wildcard questions for the end, after gathering key information.


3. Strategic Answer Choices

Structure answers thoughtfully for better responses.

  • Closed vs. Open-ended: Provide multiple-choice options but include “Other” for flexibility.

  • Limit Choices: Stick to 4–5 options unless necessary.

  • Define Scales: Clarify numeric scales or rankings (e.g., 1 = Very Unsatisfied, 10 = Very Satisfied).


4. Avoid Response Biases

Anticipate and reduce common biases:

  • Acquiescence Bias: Avoid agree/disagree formats that lean toward agreement.

  • Social Desirability Bias: Phrase neutrally to prevent respondents from “looking good.”

  • Order Effects: Randomize answer choices to avoid recency bias in oral surveys.


5. Design for a Great Experience

Make the survey enjoyable for your team and respondents.

  • Keep it engaging and efficient to foster positive interactions.

  • Train your team to practice aloud, test the survey, and feel confident in outreach.

  • Happy respondents = better results and stronger community connections!

Get out there and make an impact! 🎈✨ 🚀

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