Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers about web surveys and about the Survey Generator tool.
About web surveys
How can I find representative addresses for various groups in society?
We collaborate with the CINT company, which has a panel system that contains a number of different types of panels, containing people who have said that they are willing to answer surveys. You can make a selection, using a number of different parameters such as where people live, age, sex and income, but also using softer background data such as interests, family membership or living conditions. If you want to create your own panel, you can use our Panel Module, where you can easily administer this.
Which is better – HTML or plain text distributions?
Briefly, you can say that the choice is between very secure text format or inspiring, attractive HTML format.
- Plain text is simpler (lacks images, colours, fonts etc.) and can be received by everybody. A plain text distribution runs a lower risk of ending up in the trash can.
- Using HTML, you can design your distribution to conform with the company’s profile, and make it more easy to read, which can increase the response frequency. There is a greater risk of ending up in the e-mail trash can, than if you use text format.
How many responses can I expect?
This is almost an impossible question to answer, somewhere between 10 – 90 percent. The response frequency depends on things like the type of survey, your target group, the relationship you have with the target group and any incentives (lotteries etc.). For example, you will get a higher response frequency from a survey of your colleagues than from a customer survey.
How can I increase the response frequency?
You can increase the response frequency by being clear about the purpose of the survey, sending some pleasant reminder mails and of course, mentioning if the respondents will get something to thank them for answering the survey.
How long should a survey be open?
The survey time depends on the number of responses you want to receive. You will commonly get most responses during the first day, but about three weeks is a good "open time", which gives everybody time to answer. You can generate reports during the time that the survey is open, to see the tendencies in the responses.
How many times should you remind respondents to answer?
This depends on how long you want to have your survey open, but one or two reminders should normally be enough. It's important that you don't start nagging. This could get people to answer irresponsibly, just for the sake of answering, or feel so hunted that they actually refuse to answer.
About the Survey Generator tool
What can I use Survey Generator for?
You can more or less use Survey Generator for all types of email distributions or questions that you want to ask via the web. Among other things, we help our customers with: employee surveys, attitude and brand surveys, customer and member communication, panels, web competitions, course and project evaluations, applications and invitations, news shots and many other things.
Why should I use Survey Generator, in particular?
- User-friendly: Survey Generator is recognised as being intuitive.
- Functionality: It is suitable for both simple, internal surveys and for complex, professional surveys.
- Adaptable: Alstra is happy to do configurations, provide extra functionality or integration with your intranet etc.
- Cost-effective: You only pay for what you need.
How quickly can I start working in Survey Generator?
You can easily start at once, without special training. It is quick and easy to put in questions and respondents, and then distribute the survey. A wizard in the tool helps you to create your questionnaire, step-by-step. We also offer training courses, if you need extra support or want to learn more.
Some of the people who will answer the questionnaire don't speak Swedish. How do I solve that?
You can set up questionnaires in almost 30 languages in Survey Generator, and the list of languages is extended all the time. Languages can be handled in two ways:
- Configured: You ask the respondent at the beginning of the questionnaire about the language he/she wants to answer in. The questionnaire language is then configured to suit his/her choice.
- Pre-selected: If you know in what language the respondents want to answer you can choose language in the survey.
Some of the people who will answer the questionnaire may have reading or writing disabilities or sight loss. How can I reach them better?
Survey Generator can be adapted to people with reading or writing disabilities or visual impairment so that they can answer online surveys. The optional ReadSpeaker allows the respondent with a simple click to get questions and answers read out loud.
I need help with my survey, how do I do?
If you need technical support, you can always send e-mail support@alstra.se (Survey Generator Small) or call +46 (0)8-22 22 65 (Survey Generator Medium and Large).
If you do not have time to create your survey or manage the entire investigation, we can help you. Please contact us for discussion of the approach and quote.
I do not have e-mail addresses to some of my respondents in the survey, how can I solve it?
- You create your survey in Survey Generator.
- We create a login page to the survey.
- You send a postcard to those without e-mail, with information about the link to the login page, or alternatively, a postal questionnaire containing information about the login page (you can use the Survey Generator and registrate the answers from the postal questionnaires that you receive).