Deep Dive into Examples of Survey Questions

Welcome back to "The Glass Shoe"—the think tank for thinkers and makers in the startup realm. I'm Ashley, here to lead you through masterful survey design today. We’ll dive into the fine details of composing survey questions that deliver clear, impactful data. Ready to refine your research tools? Let's begin our deep dive!

Surveys are the microscopes of the customer discovery world. They can reveal intricate details about your customers' thoughts and behaviors. But to get there, each question must be a precision instrument. Let's zoom in.

A great survey question has several key components: specificity, clarity, and relevance. For example, a vague question like "How do you find our app?" is open to interpretation. Instead, ask "How easy is it to navigate our app's main menu?"—a question that's clear and yields actionable data.

Depth and breadth in your questions are your allies. Don't just skim the surface with "Do you like our app?" Dive deeper with "What specific features do you like most about our app, and why?" Follow up with scenarios to explore their preferences further.

The "why" behind a customer's action is a treasure trove. Don’t be afraid of setting up follow up questions, "You indicated you prefer shopping in-app over our website—can you share what drives this preference?" This kind of question uncovers motivations that drive user behavior. And these kinds of follow up questions can easily be set up in Qualtrics or Survey Monkey, which are my go-to survey software solutions.

When you need to prioritize features or understand user preferences, rankings and ratings come into play. For instance, "Please rank the following features from most to least important for your daily tasks." Such questions help you allocate resources where they're needed most.

To avoid leading respondents to a desired answer, keep your questions neutral. Bad example: "How excellent did you find our world-class customer service?" Good example: "How would you rate your satisfaction with our customer service?"

Now, let's walk through constructing a survey from scratch for a hypothetical health and wellness app. Start with establishing demographics with simple, direct questions: "What is your age range?" and "How often do you use wellness apps?"

Next, assess their current behaviors: "Select the features you regularly use in wellness apps." This sets the stage for more probing questions like "What are your primary goals when using a wellness app?" and "Describe any difficulties you've encountered while using wellness apps."

For evaluating new features, present a scenario: "Imagine a wellness app that offers live fitness classes. How valuable would this be to you on a scale of 1 to 10?"

For a feature-specific feedback survey, avoid the open-ended "What do you think about our new feature?" Instead, dissect the feature: "How intuitive did you find the new drag-and-drop functionality in our app? Please rate from 1 (not intuitive) to 5 (very intuitive)." Then, probe deeper: "Can you describe any challenges you faced when using the drag-and-drop for the first time?"

After a purchase, the buyer's journey isn't over. Craft questions that explore satisfaction and next steps: "Immediately after purchasing, what information did you search for next?" and "How likely are you to recommend our product based on your purchasing experience? Rate from 1 (unlikely) to 10 (extremely likely)." Don't forget the open-ended: "Please share any suggestions to improve our checkout process."

When service interruptions happen, understanding the impact is crucial. Frame your questions to gauge reaction and recovery: "How disruptive was the recent service outage to your work? Rate from 1 (no disruption) to 5 (severe disruption)." Follow with "What would you suggest as an acceptable response from us during such interruptions?"

For media platforms, content is king. To understand viewing habits: "List the top three factors that influence your decision to watch a new show." Dive into specifics with "On a scale of 1-5, how important are user reviews in selecting content?" And "Describe a recent instance when you decided not to watch recommended content and why."

Loyalty programs thrive on customer retention. But what drives loyalty? "Rank the following benefits according to their importance in maintaining your loyalty: Discounts, Exclusive Access, Free Shipping." Then ask "Have you ever considered ending your loyalty program membership? If yes, what prompted this?"

If this meticulous approach resonates with you, and you're ready to start crafting your own survey symphony, hit "like" to support the channel. Share your insights or ask for advice in the comments. And "subscribe" for our deep dive into advanced survey techniques.

As we close today's session, remember, the devil is in the details, and the angels are in the insights. Crafting your survey with precision leads to revelations that can guide your startup's course to success. Until next time, keep probing, keep perfecting, and may your surveys always return with the golden data you seek to see if the shoe fits. Farewell for now from "The Glass Shoe"!