Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Survey Software.

Ratings

Administration Options

Survey software should provide various options and methods to administer surveys including through the internet, face–to–face interview, paper or email.

Survey Creation

The options and features the software provides allow those administering the survey to customize look, feel and restrictions associated with their survey. This may include question creation and type selection as well as font, image and color; and respondent restrictions like passwords and skip branching.

Survey Analysis

The tools the survey software provides assist in analyzing and organizing survey responses. Many programs include simple analysis like percentages and pie charts. Others include more sophisticated statistical options, like standard deviation or cross tabulation charts.

Ease of Use

Survey software should be powerful enough to produce relevant and reliable results and easy enough for novice surveyors and computer users to understand and operate.

Help/Support

The survey program should include a comprehensive user guide. Software companies or manufactures should also offer help and customer support through responsive telephone and email.

Features

Online

The survey can be administered over the Internet.

Paper

The survey software can print paper copies of created surveys.

Interview

The software allows the survey to be filled out on the computer by an administrator. These surveys are often used in face-to-face interviews or over the phone.

Email

The survey software allows surveys to be sent to respondents via email.

Survey Creation

Create Custom Questions

The survey software allows you to write custom questions for your survey.

Includes Stock Questions

The survey program already includes a selection or library of frequently asked survey questions.

Includes Sample Surveys

The software includes sample surveys. Often these can be used as templates.

Multiple Choice Single Response

A question option where respondents can only chose one option as an answer.

Multiple Choice Multiple Responses

Respondents can choose several answers to one question.

Ranking

A question option were respondents rank options or products in terms of frequency or importance. Please list these products from most important to least.

Rating

A scale type question using numbers. "On a scale of 1-5" how important are these aspects in an employer?

Question Matrix

A popular question type similar to multiple choice where the respondent chooses the frequency or importance of topics, thoughts or behaviors. "I shop online. never, sometimes, always."

Comment

Questions where the respondent can type in very short answers to open ended questions. These responses are often limited to a few sentences or less.

Custom Design

The survey program puts ultimate design control in the survey creator's hands. There are little to no limits regarding images, fonts or color choices.

Include Instructions Text

The creator can include plain text into the survey for instructions.

Font

The survey designer can change or adjust the font style, size or color.

Images

The software allows the survey creator to insert photographs or images into the survey.

Background Color

The survey creator can change the background color of their surveys.

Require Answers

Selected questions can require an answer in order for the respondent to continue with the survey.

Skip Pattern/ Branching

The survey software has a setting in which it can skip questions based on previous answers.

Restrict Access

The survey administrator can restrict access to the published surveys with password protection. Only those with the correct password can take the survey.

Curb Ballot Box Stuffing

Usually used for online surveys, the software can be set to avoid multiple survey responses from one person. Many use previously installed cookies connected to your IP, others do this with password restrictions.

Save Incomplete Surveys

Through cookies or passwords respondents may save incomplete surveys for future completion.

Respondents Can Update Answers

After a survey has been completed, respondents can return and update answers.

Survey Analysis

Frequency Tables

One of the simplest types of analysis, frequency tables often show the frequency and percentage of responses to a question. Mean, median and mode are sometimes included in a frequency table.

Percentages

The software calculates percentages based on respondent's answers.

Graphs

The survey software has the ability to create charts, based on the survey's statistical data, in 2D or 3D images.

Bar

Bar charts can be created using statistical data.

Pie

The software can create a pie chart from raw data.

Line

The survey software includes line charts as a graph option.

Mean

The average or central tendency of responses.

Median

The value directly in the middle of a number of responses.

Mode

The most frequently occurring value in a series of answers.

Total Respondents

The software calculates the total number of people who answered the question and how many answered a particular way.

Minimum Value

Calculates the minimum value in a set of data.

Maximum Value

Calculates the maximum value in a set of data.

Standard Deviation

The software can calculate the mathematical deviation from the central tendency.

Cross Tabulations

A table that compares the data between two questions or sets of data.

Banner Tabulations

A table that compares the data between more than two question or sets of data.

Filters

Much like a search feature, the software allows the analyzer to study specific questions or data by filtering or narrowing the results displayed.

Correlation Matrices

A table showing the correlation between two questions or sets of data. This allows the analyzer to draw conclusions about how one aspect of the survey effects another aspect.

Print Results from Program

Analysis reports can be printed directly from the software.

Import/Export

Import Results

Previously recorded results can be imported from a Word, spreadsheet or Text file.

Export Results

Analysis reports can be exported into a Word, spreadsheet or Text file.

Import Survey

Previously written surveys can be imported to the survey software from Word or Text files.

Export Survey

Surveys created with the survey software can be exported to a Word or Text file.

Technical Help/Support

Telephone Support

Software company provides a telephone contact for technical support.

eMail Support

Company provides receptive email for support.

User Manual / User Guide

Survey software is equipped with a user manual and help section.

Tutorials

The software includes tutorials as additional help.

FAQ/ Knowledgebase

Frequently Asked Questions can often answer common problems regarding survey creation or analysis.

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