A questionnaire is a document that contains a list of questions, which are aimed to collect data according to survey tasks. A questionnaire is also known as a survey form, a query sheet, or an interrogation mark.

A questionnaire is developed after the survey tasks creation and before the survey conduction. In simple words, it is a tool to collect data properly, so it can be analyzed promptly and efficiently.

What’s the Difference Between a Questionnaire and a Survey?

If you’re still in doubt about what is the difference between a questionnaire and a survey, here is a hint: a survey is the process of data collection with the help of a document that contains a list of questions (questionnaire). Let’s clarify this a bit more. 

Time and cost are factors that obviously show the difference between questionnaire and survey. A questionnaire preparation takes a relatively humble period of time (from an hour to one week), while the survey process may last months and even years. A questionnaire also costs significantly less than survey conduction as it doesn’t demand communication with multiple people (respondents).

While a questionnaire is simply a list of questions, only the survey process can bring answers to the questions. Although, without a questionnaire (the document with a questions list), the whole survey would rather be nonsense in the form of chatting between an interviewer and respondents.

Unveiling the Benefits of Doing a Questionnaire

The benefits of a survey questionnaire are clearly visible, still, let’s go through the main ones. A questionnaire helps to gather a lot of structured data in less time. That means you don’t have to think about questions every time and note complex unstructured answers, instead, you read the questions from the list and put down standardized answers.

Another benefit of questionnaire creation is that it can be made online. Various high-quality services provide tools for questionnaire elaboration. Even more, some online survey platforms provide a full range of survey-related services, including questionnaires distribution, data analysis, and report creation.

Online survey platforms (like GrapeData) usually use unique software that customizes your questionnaire in order to enhance brand recognition and strengthen brand image. Custom colours, fonts, graphics, and animation may be available on online platforms.

What Does a Good Questionnaire Look Like?

If you want your questionnaire to have a good look, please consider these recommendations. Uniformity is the key to a successful presentation. It uses standardization and plain design to create respondent-friendly perception and make the analysis of obtained data easier.

A questionnaire should be explorative and analytic, though there are no restrictions or prohibitions when it comes to a good questionnaire. Think about the data you need to gather and your tasks, when respondents read the questions they should understand what you were intended to say.

Last but not the least, you should think about questions types and sequences. You may choose yes/no questions, multiple-choice questions, close-ended questions, open questions, or ranking questions. Different types of questions should be well ordered to create the impression of something consolidated and smooth. For example, you may put demographic questions first, then add warming questions, followed by the main part and conclusive questions.