The initial phase of survey questions is crucial to effectively entice, involve, and motivate respondents to delve further into the survey.
Survey questions must be appealing and efficient in terms of the time and effort required to complete. Due to its usefulness and simplicity, multiple choice questions are a good way to start a survey.
What Are Multiple Choice Questions?
The mainstay of surveys, multiple-choice questions offer respondents a range of viable answers. Single-select and multiple-select choices both work for multiple-choice questions. Standard survey or questionnaire questions typically have multiple-choice answers, with respondents being asked to choose one or more possible responses.
When To Use Multiple Choice Questions?
When a list of alternative answers follows a question or statement, it is called a multiple-choice question. Usually, the person is just given one choice, but they can select many alternatives if given specific instructions.
Multiple-choice inquiries (MCQs) are an efficient data-gathering tool. For instance, the ubiquitous multiple-choice inquiry “How satisfied are you with our product or service?” is used by numerous organisations. Extremely satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, and highly dissatisfied are typical options for giving feedback.
Since only a few possible answers are given, multiple-choice questions are considered closed-ended. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) can be utilised in a wide range of contexts, including but not limited to surveys, questionnaires, polls, forms, academic assessments, quizzes, and so on.
Types of multiple choice Questions with Survey Examples
Single Select Options:
The most common type of multiple-choice question is the “single select” type, in which the respondent chooses only one answer from a set of alternatives. All response alternatives for these questions are presented simultaneously, and respondents select one randomly or from a drop-down menu.
Multiple Select Options or Checkboxes:
When answering a multiple-choice question, respondents can choose more than one option. All possible answers are presented to the respondent in a single question. Participants are instructed to “select all that apply” or “you may choose more than one” from the available possibilities.
Dichotomous Questions:
Participants in dichotomous multiple-choice questions choose between two alternatives that are opposed to one another. “Yes” or “No,” “True” or “False,” “Agree” or “Disagree,” and so on are all examples.
Matrix Questions:
Matrix questions are multiple-choice questions presented all at once in a grid layout. Each participant must choose precisely one answer in each row of this grid.
Visual or Image Multiple-Choice Questions:
Participants in a visual multiple-choice question are presented with a succession of visuals rather than words from which to choose an answer. When answering these types of questions, it is common practice to use a combination of text and an image to convey meaning. The majority of social media quizzes feature visual questions.
Rank Order Questions:
In a rank-order multiple-choice question, the respondent is asked to rate the relative merits of the presented choices. You could utilise a ‘drag and drop’ feature or list all possible answers to these questions and then have respondents enter the relevant number in the box.
Pros of multiple choice Questions
Multiple-choice tests have remained popular for a reason. Some of its advantages are summarised below.
Extraordinarily Convenient & Fast:
Customer responses to multiple-choice questions about a service or product can now be collected in as little as five seconds through a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, thanks to the advancing technological wave. This will aid in the swift resolution of any urgent service problems.
Simple & Accessible:
People’s ability to answer has been dramatically improved by requiring them to select an option rather than write or submit their thoughts. The response rate to surveys with multiple-choice questions is almost always substantially more significant than surveys requiring respondents to write or enter answers.
Narrow the scope:
By asking respondents to pick one of several predetermined options, you can reduce the likelihood of receiving subjective responses that add little value to developing your product or service.
Cons of multiple choice Questions
There are benefits and drawbacks to using MCQs, just as there are to anything else. Some common drawbacks of multiple-choice exams are as follows:
People Can Get Lucky:
Even if you have yet to learn what you’re doing, you never know what luck you’ll strike on an MCQ. A student has a one-fourth probability of getting the correct answer by randomly selecting one of four options on an exam.
Someone who chooses “A” on every question will almost certainly obtain some correct answers, even if they would ordinarily get 0% on this type of topic.
Can Take Time to Develop:
Some forms of multiple-choice testing require careful consideration of each answer option. To give something more thought is to invest more time and energy into it.
In a mathematics exam, for instance, it’s essential to carefully select answer choices so that the right one looks clear. It may take more time to frame these questions than to write open-ended or fill-in-the-blank inquiries.
MCQs Lack Qualitative Data:
A customer’s dissatisfaction with your brand can be gauged with multiple-choice questions. But the “why” remains a mystery to you. To get the whole picture, you must ask a healthy balance of open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Examples of Multiple Choice Questions
Single Select:
When you’re stuck, do you feel confident asking for assistance?
- Yes, I am incredibly comfortable asking for assistance. You learn by doing that!
- No, I’m afraid that people will judge me.
Do you trust your manager to hear and comprehend what you are saying?
- I do, absolutely and completely!
- Unfortunately, that kind of dynamic is not yet present.
Multiple Select:
How did you find out about our product?
- A friend recommended it to me!
- Youtube
- Google Ads
- Other (please specify)
Which three features of our product are most valuable to you?
- Ease of use
- Functionality
- Build durability
- Portability
- Design and aesthetics
Picture Based:
- Which do you prefer—shopping on a laptop or a phone?
- Which flavour is your favourite out of the ones listed below?
- Which one of our items thrills you the most?
- What is your mode of transportation for arriving at the office?
Numeric Slider:
- How many hours a day would you prefer to work? (5-12)
- How many songs would you like to hear in a movie? (0-10)
- What is your preferred office air conditioning temperature? (15-30).
FAQs:
What are the constituent components of a multiple-choice question?
A typical multiple-choice question comprises three components: the stem, the actual question being asked, the correct answer, and the distractors, the incorrect answer options.
When should I use multiple-choice questions in my survey?
Multiple-choice questions can be a suitable option when there is a certain level of familiarity with the potential range of responses from the participants.
What are some strategies for crafting multiple-choice questions?
In composing multiple-choice questions, it is imperative to furnish answer choices that are unambiguous, concise, and easily distinguishable. In addition, it is advisable to incorporate the “alternative” in surveys to allow participants to express their perspectives and recommendations.
Conclusion
The versatile nature of multiple-choice questions has led to their widespread use in various fields, including education, market research, customer feedback, and product development.
To produce an optimal multiple-choice questionnaire, it is imperative to furnish clear and pertinent answer choices, employ straightforward language, and incorporate the “other” alternative whenever feasible. By utilising well-constructed multiple-choice questions (MCQs), it is possible to efficiently gather extensive data and conduct research on a specific audience promptly.