A generic survey provides generic results. Period.
Your team is already loaded with important tasks and adding on a mandatory survey that doesn’t appear to bring them value can create disengaged and unreliable data.
Discover the importance of tailored surveys and how they improve response performance and quality data.
Difference between generic and tailored survey questions
Deciding between a generic or tailored survey can significantly impact the results of the data collected. Here’s the difference between the two:
| Generic | Tailored |
|---|---|
| Standardized and pre-designed questions that can be used across various survey topics. They are often broad and lack the depth to gain detailed insights. | Custom-designed surveys that are created for the particular research goal or audience. The objective is clearly defined. They often provide greater depth and specificity than generic surveys. |
Is there ever a time to use a generic survey format?
While tailored surveys offer more advantages, there is a time and place where generic surveys will provide better results. Here are a few instances where generic is more suitable:
- Broad research: In the early stages of research and don’t have a lot of data to go off of? A generic survey can provide initial insights and identify key areas to look closer at.
- Benchmarking: Need to compare results from multiple organizations? It’s important to ask the same questions for everyone so you have a standardized measurement.
Why tailored survey questions perform better
Designing your own questions will yield relevant and targeted data. But why? Check out 4 reasons why tailored questions perform so well:
- Specific to your objectives
When you design your own questions, you have the freedom to focus on what matters most to your organization or group you’re surveying. Tailored questions can extract targeted data so you can get a full-picture understanding of your subject matter.
- Higher response rates
Tailored surveys tell the respondent that their opinions are valued. When someone feels like their response matters and will make a difference, they are more likely to complete the survey. Custom questions also help with survey fatigue. Expect a higher response rate when you push out surveys that relate to your employees.
- Deeper granularity
Generic questions provide limited options and predefined responses. With tailored questions, you’re able to explore topics of interest in detail or ask open-ended questions. You can discover unique perspectives, pinpoint trends, and uncover important insights you may never have found.
- Flexibility
Custom surveys offer a lot of flexibility. Market conditions change. Research objectives evolve. You’ll want to modify your survey to fit within the new parameters. This ensures your surveys stay relevant and continue to provide valuable data.
Create customized and science-based surveys
When creating a survey, your goal should always be to gather meaningful insights. Your employees don’t want to take a survey for no reason. They want to see meaningful change from the results. And so should you.
Nervous about creating a tailored survey? Hire a consultant that has professional experience in customized and science-based surveys.
