Survey vs. Questionnaire: What’s the Difference?
Surveys and questionnaires are valuable tools for gathering information. They’re used everywhere, from political polling to market research to customer satisfaction assessments. But the terms “survey” and “questionnaire” are often used interchangeably, even though they don’t really mean the same thing.
So, what is the difference between a survey and a questionnaire?
This article breaks down the nuances of each term, explores how they’re used in practice, and offers some tips for using them effectively. Understanding the distinction is crucial for accurate research, data collection, and effective communication. Let’s dive in!
Defining the Questionnaire
The terms “survey” and “questionnaire” are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same thing. A questionnaire is actually a key component of a survey.
Questionnaire: A Tool for Gathering Data
A questionnaire is simply a set of questions used to collect information from individuals. Questionnaires are usually designed for quick data collection about a specific person.
These questions can be open-ended, allowing for detailed answers, or closed-ended, offering a limited range of responses. Often, a questionnaire will include a mix of both types of questions.
Remember, a questionnaire by itself isn’t a survey; it’s just one part of a survey project.
Examples of Questionnaire Use
Questionnaires are often used to gather information about an individual.
For instance, your local gym might ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your health history before you sign up for a membership. This is an example of a questionnaire.
A manager might send out a questionnaire to each of their employees working from home to assess their individual technology needs. The questionnaire would be focused on one individual’s needs and situation.
What is a survey?
A survey is a method of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information from a group of people. Surveys aim to collect data that can be used to identify trends and predict future outcomes.
Surveys are more in-depth than simple questionnaires. Surveys aim to understand the behavior or characteristics of an entire group.
A survey involves organizing, analyzing, and interpreting the data collected from numerous questionnaires.
For example, a company might use a survey to understand the experiences of its entire workforce related to working from home. The survey would combine responses from many different questionnaires.
Another example would be an employee satisfaction survey that uses Likert scales to measure the degree of agreement with a statement.
What are the key differences between surveys and questionnaires?
While people often use the terms “survey” and “questionnaire” interchangeably, they aren’t quite the same thing. Here are some of the key differences:
- Scope and purpose: Questionnaires aim to collect individual responses, while surveys aim to understand group behavior.
- Data analysis: Surveys involve organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data. Questionnaires are primarily for data collection. Because surveys include data aggregation and analysis capabilities, data analysis is generally easier with surveys.
- Data sets: Surveys generally use large datasets to provide broad insights, while questionnaires are better suited for gathering smaller, more specific data.
- Interrelation: Surveys always include a questionnaire, but a questionnaire isn’t a survey.
Think of it like this: the questionnaire is a tool you use when conducting a survey.
Types of Questionnaires and Surveys
Both questionnaires and surveys come in a variety of forms, each designed to gather specific types of information.
Types of Questionnaires
- Quantitative Questionnaires: These questionnaires focus on collecting numerical data that can be statistically analyzed.
- Qualitative Questionnaires: These questionnaires gather descriptive, non-numerical data, often exploring opinions, feelings, and experiences.
- Demographic Questionnaires: These questionnaires collect information about characteristics like age, gender, and location. Companies might use inclusive demographic surveys to understand their employees before launching diversity initiatives.
- Psychographic Questionnaires: These questionnaires delve into people’s attitudes, interests, and lifestyles.
- Scaled Questionnaires: These questionnaires use scales, such as Likert scales, to measure opinions or attitudes. For example, a Likert scale question might ask, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend Company X to a friend or colleague?”
- Pictorial Questionnaires: These questionnaires use images to gather data, which can be helpful for respondents with limited literacy or for exploring emotional responses.
Types of Surveys
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): This type of survey measures customer loyalty by asking respondents how likely they are to recommend a product or service.
- Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): This type of survey measures customer satisfaction with a specific product, service, or interaction.
- Customer Effort Score (CES): This type of survey measures the ease of a customer’s experience, typically by asking them to rate how much effort they had to put forth to resolve an issue or complete a task.
Survey vs. Questionnaire: Which should you use?
Use questionnaires for quick, basic data collection, especially when you’re gathering information from one person at a time. They’re great for getting specific details.
Surveys are better when you want to analyze trends and collect data from a large group of people.
Before you decide, think about what you want to learn. What are your research goals? Knowing this will make it easier to choose the right tool. Ultimately, the choice between a survey and a questionnaire depends on the kind of data you need and what you plan to do with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is called surveys and questionnaires with examples?
Generally speaking, surveys and questionnaires are methods of gathering information from a group of people. Questionnaires are the sets of questions given to participants, while surveys are the overall processes of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the data gathered from those questionnaires. Examples of surveys include customer satisfaction surveys, market research surveys, and political opinion polls. Questionnaires are the individual forms used within those surveys.
What is the difference between a survey and a research question?
A research question is the central question a study aims to answer. A survey is a tool used to collect data that helps answer that research question. For example, a research question might be: “Does increased social media use correlate with higher levels of anxiety?” A survey would then be designed to collect data on social media usage and anxiety levels.
What is the difference between survey and questionnaire?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference. A questionnaire is a specific set of questions. A survey encompasses the entire process of designing the questionnaire, distributing it, collecting the responses, and analyzing the data. Think of a questionnaire as one component within a larger survey project.
What is considered a survey?
A survey is considered a systematic method for gathering information from a sample of individuals to construct quantitative descriptors of the attributes of the larger population of which the individuals are members. It involves a structured set of questions (the questionnaire), a defined population, a sampling strategy, and a method for data analysis.
In Closing
A questionnaire is a tool you use to gather data from people one at a time, while a survey is a large-scale process of gathering and analyzing data from a group of individuals.
Knowing the difference between a survey and a questionnaire is key to accurate research and data collection. Without that understanding, you might not reach the right conclusions or make the best decisions.
So, before you decide how to collect your data, take the time to think about what you want to learn and why. That way, you’ll choose the best method for your needs.