Start Good Survey Habits Today
Because surveys are relatively easy to do, they’re also ripe for bad habits- kind of like fast food. The quickest, easiest option isn’t always the best one. Pay your $50 monthly subscription for a survey platform, and suddenly, you’re off to the races.
The problem? Bad survey habits can do millions of dollars in damage.
Before you panic, let me set your mind at ease. Mistakes like survey fatigue, an accidental survey send, or a technical glitch happen (trust us- we’re an excellent but not perfect company that has surveyed millions of people and manages over 1,000 surveys a week, so we’ve seen and even contributed to all of the above). But these aren’t the costly, painful survey mistakes.
The real damage comes from deeper issues- ones that create confusion, erode trust, and lead to bad decisions. So how do you avoid them?
What Is Good Survey Hygiene?
Good survey hygiene is about being intentional, strategic, and action-oriented.
Click here for good staff surveying tips.
Here are some key habits of strong survey systems:
? Using a mix of survey types – Combine deeper, more in-depth surveys with quicker Pulse Checks to balance insights with engagement.
? Being thoughtful about survey questions – Pew has a great resource on how to craft effective survey questions. The right questions lead to better data.
? Taking action when you can; learning more when you need – Not every survey requires immediate action, but every survey should have a purpose.
? Maximizing crowd-sourced information – Surveys should help you tap into the collective intelligence of your community, not just confirm what you already believe.
? Right-sizing quantitative and qualitative prompts – Too much of either can skew your results. Find the right balance between numbers and narratives.
? Distinguishing research surveys from action surveys – If a survey is for research, respondents should know—and ideally, be compensated. If it’s for action, it should be designed to drive decisions.
If I had to pick only one survey type to use, I’d choose Pulse Checks over long-form surveys every time.
Some folks like to look optimistically- glass half full. That’s the perspective above. Now, let’s look at the glass half empty: How can a bad survey cost millions of dollars?
?? What Are Bad Survey Habits?
Bad surveys – You know them when you see them. They typically:
For example, I recently attempted, unsuccessfully I might add, to take a survey on state curriculum standards. I may have some opinions on curriculum standards I could answer but these were not asked in a way where I could contribute.?
Other times you will see institutions send out a 20-page strategic plan and ask, “What do you think of this document?” It’s well-intentioned (I assume) but not effective.
?? Survey by committee – When too many people contribute, the survey becomes bloated and unfocused.
?? Unpredictable surveys – If people don’t know when or why they’re being surveyed, response rates suffer, and trust erodes.
?? Lack of a survey system – One-off surveys create noise. A structured system builds clarity and consistency.
?? Taking action with limited information – Making big decisions based on incomplete or misleading survey data can lead to wasted resources and bad outcomes.
How Do Bad Surveys Cost Money?
I’ll dive deeper into this in a future post, but in short:
Good surveys don’t just gather data—they build trust, drive action, and create lasting impact. If you're ready to upgrade your survey habits, start today.
Want help building a better survey system? Let’s chat.