How to Decide Which Question Type to Use?

Selecting the Right Question Type When Creating A Survey

Choosing the right format of questions is vital to gain impartial and straight forward answers. The proper format for each question will provide you with more impactful and meaningful insights.

Every allows you to choose from 8 question types - each used for the purpose of its own. By using the correct question format, you allow your audience to express themselves freely, and you too can evaluate and analyse the results more effectively.

Question Format	When To Use	Example
Screener	When you want to target only a specific audience segment.	Are you the decision-maker when purchasing Product X? Yes, I am the main decision-maker Yes, I jointly make the decision No, I am not decision-maker [Terminate non-decision maker]
Statement	When you're informing the audience of instructions, section headers, or just telling them how many questions they have left; situations where a response from the audience isn't necessary.	Section B: This section of the survey will be asking you about the types and brands of energy drinks that you like.
Open-Ended / Text Entry	When emotions, situations or attitudes are unknown. Gather responses to determine the sentiment toward a particular product / service.	When you think of Product X, what is the first brand that comes to your mind?
SA - Single Answer	When you want to find out the most value of something or for straight forward Yes / No questions.	What is your most preferred mode of transportation? A. Drive own car B. Public Transport D. Motorcycle OR Do you agree with this statement? "Statement X" Yes No
MA - Multiple Answer	Questions which have more than one possible answer.	Which social media platforms do you currently use? A. Facebook B. Instagram C. Twitter
Ranking	Measurement of liking, priority, satisfaction, etc.	What are your main consideration factors when purchasing Product X? Please drag and rank the factors according to the importance. TOP: Most important factor/ First thing to consider; BOTTOM: Least important factor / Last thing to consider Price Brand Country of origin Promotion
Drop-Down	When asking questions with a larger answer list.	Which of the following brand of Product X are you currently consuming? [List of brands in the market]
Rating Scale	Measurement of liking, satisfaction, NPS with a scale	How satisfied are you with Product X? 5 - Very satisfied 4 - Somewhat satisfied 3 - Neutral 2 - Somewhat unsatisfied 1 - Very unsatisfied
Grid / Matrix	When asking multiple items to respondents one at a time, and ask for a multiple- or single-choice answer in response, with the answer options remaining the same across all items.	Please select your answer for each question. Statement: Statement A Statement B Statement C Answer: Yes No

Emphasize making your questions clear and straight to the point, exclude pre-conceived opinions and aim to be inclusive overall, placing high consideration for the variety of personas in your target audience. This strategy will help you understand your consumers and their environment better.