Survey vs Questionnaire: Difference and Examples

Are surveys and questionnaires the same? If you are looking for this answer, keep reading! As we are going to talk in details about survey vs questionnaire in this blog!

A lot of times people use the terms survey and questionnaire interchangeably. However, there is a stark difference between the two. A survey helps evaluate and analyze the opinions of a particular section of the audience through a set of questions. Whereas a questionnaire is a collection of questions that might be created for a purpose other than conducting a survey.

Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s dive into the blog and learn about the difference between surveys and questionnaires in detail.

What is a Survey?

A survey is an interactive tool used to conduct research and analyze data about a specific subject. They help collect information for academic and business requirements. Besides, since a survey is a source of crucial information and helps provide great insight, it is important to create a survey meticulously. 

A survey may comprise one or more questionnaires which in turn may comprise open-ended questions or questions with predefined options. You can select the most appropriate choice available while filling in your responses.

To understand this better, let us look at examples of some surveys created by Outgrow. 

Brand Awareness Survey

The above is a GIF showing snippets of a Brand Awareness Survey created with Outgrow. It includes various questions in order to record the opinions of the users about a particular brand. 

At the end of the questionnaire, there is a lead generation form asking for user details followed by a thank you page.

Diet and Fitness Survey

The above is a GIF showing snippets of a Diet and Fitness Survey. This survey asks some basic questions in order to collect information about the diet and lifestyle of the users. It includes questions about food habits, physical activity, and the overall fitness level of the users. Further, a lead generation form follows the questions. Such a form typically helps collect user information like name and email. Once you fill the lead generation form, you will be greeted with a thank you page. Ta-da! You’re done with the survey!

What is a Questionnaire?

A questionnaire is a set of questions that may be both quantitative and qualitative in nature. This set of questions may be a part of anything, whether it is a survey or any other tool such as a quiz, calculator, etc. 

The purpose of a questionnaire is to gather information from a particular target audience. Further, this information can be then interpreted as a part of a wider survey. 

A questionnaire can be envisioned as a set of questions printed either on a single sheet of paper or a set of questions that can be answered online. 

Let us look at an example to understand the concept of questionnaires better.

Back to School Student Questionnaire

Source: https://www.examples.com/education/student-questionnaire.html 

The above is an example of a questionnaire for students. It asks some general questions about the personal information about the student, their future goals, some information on a specific class, class schedule, etc.

Now that we have discussed surveys and questionnaires, let us understand the key differences between surveys and questionnaires.

Survey vs Questionnaire

Questionnaires

1. A questionnaire is not a survey itself, but part of a survey. A survey might comprise one or more questionnaires. 
2. A questionnaire is merely an instrument of data collection.
3. Gathering information through a questionnaire is a fast process.
4. Questionnaires are general sets of questions distributed to the respondents. 
5. Individual questionnaires generally consist of close-ended questions where the answers collected are objective in nature.

Surveys 

1. A survey refers to the process of collecting and analyzing data for research purposes. A survey goes beyond a questionnaire and includes many more forms of data collection. 
2. A survey is a process of conducting research on a particular subject.
3. Conducting a survey is a time-consuming process. 
4. Surveys are conducted on particular target audiences.
5. Surveys consist of both open-ended and closed-ended questions, which in turn brings in both subjective and objective types of responses. 

What Are the Top Advantages of Survey and Questionnaire 

Here are some key benefits of survey and questionnaire: 

Top Benefits of Survey

1. Flexibility in Data Collection

Surveys can incorporate various question types, allowing for both quantitative and qualitative data collection. This flexibility enables researchers to gather a wide range of information and insights.

2. Large Sample Sizes

Surveys can be distributed to a large number of respondents, providing a broader representation of the target population and increasing the statistical reliability of the results.

3. Cost-Effective

Especially when conducted online, surveys can be a cost-effective method for gathering data from a large group of people without the need for individual interviews or in-person meetings.

4. Anonymity

Surveys often offer anonymity to respondents, which can lead to more honest and unbiased responses, particularly on sensitive topics.

5. Comparative Analysis

Standardized surveys facilitate trend analysis and benchmarking by allowing for easy comparison of results across different groups or time periods.

Top Benefits of Questionnaire

1. Structured Data Collection

Questionnaires typically follow a more rigid structure, ensuring that all respondents answer the same questions in the same order, which can lead to more consistent and comparable data.

2. Focused Information Gathering

Questionnaires are often designed to collect specific information, making them ideal for targeted research objectives or gathering precise data points.

3. Self-Administration

Respondents can complete questionnaires at their own pace and convenience, potentially leading to more thoughtful responses and higher completion rates.

4. Easier Data Processing

The structured nature of questionnaires often makes data entry and analysis more straightforward, especially for quantitative information.

5. Reduced Interviewer Bias

Since questionnaires are typically self-administered, they minimize the potential for interviewer bias that can occur in face-to-face or telephone surveys.

Conclusion

There you go! We hope that you’ve understood the difference between surveys and questionnaires. If you think we missed out on anything, please let us know in the comments section below! 🙂

To create your own survey on Outgrow, start your free trial now!

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