It is doubtless that a survey can be one of the most effective tools for gathering information from diverse sources. If you do Australian surveys correctly, they will give you the most accurate data about your target audience. With this kind of insight, you can eliminate any guesses and assumptions about your audience.
Although online surveys have become a standard method of gathering data in most organizations and companies across the globe, sometimes they can be misleading. Of course, when the organization does not outrightly make their questions precise, no audience will be willing to give their honest opinion.
However, you don’t have to be a professional to come up with a useful survey. The background knowledge to developing a compelling study is basing them on tested benchmarks. There are many resources related to surveys, but here is a summary of what you need to have in your research to make it a successful one:
1. Avoid any unnecessary question
A successful survey in Australia or any other part of the world must be brief and precise. That means; any redundant question will be time-wasting and tiresome to the audience.
Remember, you are developing your survey to get the most crucial insights you need to have a successful business. It is advisable always to plan your survey based on the data you want to collect from your audience.
2. Keep your questions in the purest form possible
There is nothing as dull and frustrating to the audience as reading ambiguous questions from a survey. Many tend to ignore the subject and make a guess in their answers. So, why not develop questions that are clear and simple.
Always ensure that your questions don’t jump from one niche to another. You have to build your questions in chronological order. They have to be logical else; your respondents will not complete the survey.
It is good to note that you should avoid vague questions that are poorly worded. Such questions will just confuse your respondents, and that will result in less useful data. Strive for precise language in your questions.
3. Ask only one question
Most organizations have failed in this aspect. You may have noticed questions in a survey that have two parts. This kind of question put the respondent at a dilemma. They are caught up on the answer to give because there are two questions in one.
Always avoid questions that have the word “AND.” This word shows that your query has two parts. This is where you also need to counter-check your conjunctions, adverbs, and adjectives.
Some be ambiguous and biased from the perspective of your audience. You should remove such words from your questions if they are not necessary.
4. Identify with your respondents
As the organization conducting a survey, you should ensure that you have a little clue of the language that is your respondents use. In your questions, use terminologies that correspond to their class. Avoid jargon that will make them feel that you are inconsiderate about them.
The best way to identify with your audience is by using a language they can understand easily. Select the right population. If you are doing online surveys, you target those with email addresses.
5. Try to use the close-ended questions
The beauty with close-ended questions is their ability to give the respondents only specific questions, which will be easy for both of you. On the other side, open-ended questions usually provide the respondent the freedom to answer the questions in their ways.
Although open-ended questions could be great questions when you need more insights from your audience, closed-ended questions are preferable for analysis purposes.
6. Keep the rating scale consistent
If you choose to use a rating scale of 1 to 5 in your questions, use it throughout the survey. This rating scale is a great way to compare variables. You also need to ensure that the meanings of high and low in your questions stay consistent in your survey. You should use odd numbers in your rating. Inconsistency in your rating scale will create untrustworthy answers.
7. Be logical when sending invitations
According to statistics, a large number of the audience usually respond on Monday, Sunday, and Friday. Well, this, of course, depends on the audience that you are targeting. For business people, you can send your invitations for a business week.
It is also advisable that you send them several reminders. Some people may have forgotten, and that will be a good alert for them to respond.
8. Consider giving incentives
Most Australian surveys usually come with incentives for every audience that responds. Everyone wants to get something for their time, and an incentive is an excellent way to attract your audience.
According to research conducted by SurveyMonkey, incentives boost responses by 50%, which is an excellent way to get data.
Conclusion
The above tips can boost your survey irrespective of its scope. You should always conduct a pre-test before releasing your study to your audience. Present a few copies to your co-workers or close friends to criticize positively and point out any errors.