Conducting a CAWI online survey (Computer Assisted Web Interview) can be an excellent way to collect data for your research project. However, designing an effective CAWI online survey is critical to obtaining the maximum response rate. A well-designed survey can help you collect quality data and avoid wasting respondents’ time. In this blog, we’ll take you through some tips to design effective CAWI online surveys for maximum response rates.
Define Your Objectives
The first step in designing an effective CAWI online survey is to define your research objectives. Identify the information you want to gather and the specific questions you need to ask. This will help you avoid asking irrelevant questions that may confuse or irritate the respondents, leading to a lower response rate. Keep in mind that the more focused and concise your survey is, the more likely respondents will complete it.
Keep it Short and Simple
The length of your survey is an essential factor that can affect the response rate. Online surveys that are too lengthy or complicated can lead to low response rates. Ensure your survey is easy to read and comprehend. Keep the survey short, with no more than 20 questions. Moreover, you can consider breaking the survey into sections or pages, so it is less overwhelming for respondents.
Avoid Jargon and Ambiguity
When creating your survey questions, avoid using jargon or technical terms that are unfamiliar to your respondents. Also, avoid using ambiguous words or phrases that can confuse the respondents. You want to ensure that respondents understand the questions and can provide accurate answers.
Use Close-Ended Questions
Close-ended questions are questions that require respondents to choose from predefined response options. These questions are easier to answer and provide more accurate data. Use closed-ended questions as much as possible, and limit open-ended questions. Open-ended questions can be time-consuming to answer and can result in incomplete or irrelevant answers.
Utilize Branching and Skip Logic
Branching and skip logic are features that allow you to tailor the survey experience to each respondent. It means that respondents will only answer the questions that are relevant to them. It can significantly reduce the time and effort required to complete the survey, resulting in higher response rates. Use branching and skip logic to make the survey more user-friendly and efficient.
Include Incentives
Offering incentives can motivate respondents to complete your survey. Incentives can be in the form of discounts, coupons, or cash rewards. Ensure that the incentives are relevant to your respondents and can increase the response rate. Keep in mind that incentives should not be the primary reason for respondents to complete the survey; they should be a bonus.
Test Your Survey
Before launching your CAWI online survey, test it to ensure that it is working correctly. Send it to a few respondents to check the survey’s flow and identify any errors or omissions. Make necessary changes, if required, to ensure that the survey is user-friendly and efficient. It’s essential to test the survey on various devices to ensure that it is mobile-responsive and easy to use on all devices.
What next?
Use software like Checker. It is a powerful tool for businesses and organizations looking to conduct surveys and collect data. The CAWI feature can help you in creating a questionnaire with multiple questions and send it to your employees. The system will automatically gather the results and present them on an interactive dashboard for analysis.
