Research surveys: Examples, templates, and types

Research surveys help you base your next important decision on data.

They provide data that can be relied on. Whether conducting market research or preparing a new product launch, research surveys supply the precise information that is needed to succeed. Avoid the confusion of conflicting opinions with data analysis that provides a clear picture of what people think.

At SurveyPlanet, we’re committed to making research surveys easy to conduct. With our research survey templates, you’ll have access to questions that will deliver the data you need.

The wide variety of research survey templates available is the avenue by which to get useful data quickly—which makes developing solutions easier. Survey research can provide you with data you can rely on.

The wide variety of research survey templates available allows you to get useful data quickly and develop the correct solution. Research surveys can provide you with data you can rely on. Whether conducting market research or preparing to launch a new product, research surveys tell you precisely what you need to know. You won't be confused with conflicting opinions because analyzing data from this type of study will provide a clear picture of what people think. At SurveyPlanet, we're committed to making research surveys easy to conduct, and with our research survey templates, you'll know exactly what to ask.

What are research questionnaires?

Research questionnaires are a tool that will return insights about any topic. Just asking friends, family, and coworkers about the new product is not the best approach. Why? To put it simply, they're not a representative sample and may have biases.

You need to get the opinions of your target audience. At the end of the day, it is their opinion that matters most. And a large enough sample is required to produce statistically significant data. That's where online research surveys play an important role.

The research survey application

Research methods are designed to produce the best information from a group of research subjects (aka, the focus group). Such methods are used in many types of research and studies and are methodologies you can use for research study and data collection.

Depending on the kind of research and research methodology being carried out, different types of research survey questions are used, including multiple choice questions, Likert scale questions, open-ended questions, demographic questions, and even image choice questions.

There are many research survey applications. You can collect survey data from many customers quickly and easily—a great way to collect information about products, services, customer experience, and marketing efforts.

Types of research surveys

Research questionnaires are a great tool to gain insights about all kinds of things (and not just business purposes). Let's dive deeper into the types of research surveys and where you can apply them to get the best results.

Market research survey

Most businesses fail because there is a belief that their products and services are great—while the market thinks otherwise. To sell anything, the opinions of the people that might buy it need to be understood. Market research surveys offer insights about where a business stands with potential customers—and its potential market share—long before resources are dedicated to trying to make a product work in the marketplace.

Learn more about market research surveys

Media consumption research survey

A media consumption research survey explores how different people consume media content. It provides answers about what they view, how often, and what kind of media they prefer. With a media consumption research survey, learn everything about people's media consumption habits.

Reading preferences research survey

wondered how, why, and what people enjoy reading? With a reading preferences research survey, information about people's reading habits can be learned. By further analyzing the data, learn what different groups of people read (and the similarities and differences between different groups).

Product research survey

When launching a new product, understanding what the target audience thinks is crucial. A product research survey is a great tool, providing valuable feedback and insight that can be incorporated into a successful product launch.

Learn more about product research survey

Brand surveys

Brand surveys help ascertain how customers feel about their experience with your brand. People buy from the brands they connect with; therefore, ask about their experience and occasionally check in with them to see if they trust your brand.

Learn more about brand surveys

Path-to-purchase research survey

A path-to-purchase research survey is a study that investigates the steps consumers takes from initial product awareness to final purchase. This type of survey typically includes questions about the decision-making process, product research, and the factors that influence the final decision. It can be conducted through various methods, but the best way is with online surveys! Path-to-purchase survey results help businesses and marketers understand their target audience and develop effective marketing strategies.

Marketing research survey

Online marketing surveys help a company stand out from its competitors and tailor marketing messages that will better resonate with a target audience. Market research surveys are another type of marketing research that is crucial when launching a new product or service on the market.

Learn more about marketing research surveys

Academic research survey

Academic research surveys are instrumental in improving your knowledge about a specific subject. The consolidated results can be used to improve the efficiency of decision-making. Reliable results are produced using methodologies and tools like questionnaires, surveys, interviews, and structured online forms.

Learn more about academic surveys.

Benefits of research questionnaires

The power of research questionnaires lies in their ease of use and cost-effectiveness. They provide answers to the most vital questions. What are the main benefits of research surveys?

  • You don't have to wonder WHO, WHAT, and WHY because this type of analysis gives you answers to those—and many more—questions.
  • With a complete understanding of what's important in a research project, the best inquiries can be incorporated into research survey questions.
  • Get an unbiased opinion from your target audience and use it to your advantage.
  • Collect data that matters and have it at your fingertips at all times.

Advantages and disadvantages of research surveys

People use research surveys because they have many advantages compared to other research tools. What are the main advantages?

  1. Cost-effective.
  2. Collect data from many respondents.
  3. Flexible.
  4. Convenient.
  5. The most practical solution for gathering data.
  6. Fast and reliable.
  7. Easily comparable results.
  8. Allows for the exploration of any topic.

While such advantages make it a no-brainer to use research questionnaires, it's always good to know their disadvantages:

  1. Biased responses
  2. Cultural differences in understanding questions.
  3. Analyzing and understanding responses can be difficult.
  4. Some people won't read the questions before answering.
  5. Survey fatigue.

However, when aware of these analysis issues, mitigation strategies can be activated. Every research method has flaws, but we strongly believe the benefits of research surveys outweigh their disadvantages.

To execute a research campaign, the creation of a research survey is one of the first steps. This includes designing questions or using a premade template. Below are some of the best research survey examples, templates, and tips for designing a research survey.

Research survey examples and templates

Specific research survey questions depend on your goals. A research questionnaire can be conducted about any topic or interest. Here are some of the best research survey questions:

  1. How often do you purchase books without actually reading them?
  2. What is your favorite foreign language film?
  3. During an average day, how many times do you check the news?
  4. Who is your favorite football player of all time? Why?
  5. Have you ever used any of the following travel websites to plan a vacation?
  6. Do you currently use a similar or competing product?
  7. What is your single favorite feature of our product?
  8. When our product becomes available, are you likely to use it instead of a similar or competing product?

Of course, you should always add demographic questions like:

  1. Age
  2. Gender
  3. Education
  4. Location
  5. Marital status
  6. Household income

No matter what’s the topic of your research questionnaire, these demographic questions will help you draw better data-driven conclusions. Interested in knowing more about demographic survey questions? Check out our blog post that explains the advantages of gathering demographic information and how to do it appropriately.

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