Introductory text for online surveys: tips and best practices

Introductory text for surveys: Instructions for completion, data protection and convey interest in knowledge

Particularly for very complex online surveys, it is advisable to write an explanatory introductory text for your survey participants, which describes, for example, the interest of the survey, the time it is expected to take to complete it or general instructions for completing it and data protection regulations. The more information you give your potential survey participants in such an introductory text, the greater the likelihood of participation. But: Don't ramble too much, keep your wording concise and clear so that potential survey participants don't lose interest or run out of time while reading the introductory text.

Have data protection information confirmed using the checkbox in the introductory text!

It is also advisable to have your survey participants confirm with a checkbox that they have actually read and ultimately accepted important statements, such as data protection. QuestionPro provides a confirmation checkbox as a question type that you can easily integrate into your introductory text. Only when the checkbox is activated can you continue filling out the questionnaire.

What should the introductory text for online surveys contain?

Who is the initiator of the survey?

First of all, potential survey participants want to know WHO they are completing an online survey for. So write a few lines about yourself and your company, your organization. Please note that the introductory text is not too extensive or even promotional.

What is the survey about?

The second point that should be included in the introductory text is the information on WHAT potential survey participants should invest their valuable time in. What is the interest in knowledge? What is the survey about? Who benefits from the knowledge gained?

How long does it likely take to complete the survey?

Be sure to write in the introduction text at the beginning of the survey HOW LONG it will take to complete the online survey. This will significantly increase acceptance on the part of potential survey participants! So run a few tests first and time them. And don't forget to delete the generated test data after the test!

Is the data transmitted anonymously?

If you collect the data from the online survey anonymously, be sure to write that in the introductory text as well!

→ Tips for anonymous surveys

Provide important instructions for completing the form in the introductory text

You should also formulate explanations and explanations as well as instructions for filling out the form right at the beginning in the introductory text so that no questions or discrepancies arise while filling it out. However, please keep in mind that the online questionnaire should be developed in such a way that it is self-explanatory! Otherwise, use branching logic so that irrelevant questionnaire parts are not displayed from the outset if they are not relevant to the survey participants.

Declaration of consent via checkbox

If you want to be on the safe side, then use a checkbox to confirm that potential survey participants have understood the introductory text, in particular information on data protection. Only when the checkbox is activated can the first question be called up and the questionnaire completed.

Information on data protection and the GDPR

Of course, no introductory text to a survey should be without a reference to data protection and comments on the GDPR.

→ Information on the subject of GDPR in surveys

Create introductory text for a survey with QuestionPro

For your introduction text, select the question type "Static content" under "BASIC" within the questionnaire editor and then "Presentation text".

Then enter your individual introductory text for your online survey and select the “CHECK BOX” function from the “SETTINGS” menu.

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Create introductory text for online surveys using survey software QuestionPro

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KEYWORDS OF THIS BLOG POST

Introductory text | surveys | checkbox | Consent | GDPR | data protection