Online surveys skew the results
I’m in one or two programs, such as Ipsos Isay, that offer participants surveys (not for money). I received an invitation to take one today, which I did. If you’ve never taken one of these before, you click on a link in your email. You’re asked some basic info, stuff like age, sex, if you work in a particular industry, if you do all of the grocery shopping and if you have kids. Basic demographic info, not off the wall stuff like what fitness equipment you use. Then you answer a bunch of questions by multiple choice, sometimes looking at pictures of a new product. At the end you’re asked for input regarding your survey experience. Sounds simple enough right?
In taking today’s survey I found myself in the same position that I’ve been in a few times before. There was no appropriate answer but I had to select an answer to continue on. Sometimes the answer closest to your real answer is still a long way from your real answer. I first thought I didn’t understand why they don’t build in more choices for these surveys, but then I realized there’s a chance that it was being done on purpose to skew the results. The only reason I can think of doing that would be to alter the numbers in the results to cause a different outcome.
Let me give you an example of one that happens all the time. I open a survey that asks if I have children. I say yes. It asks for the ages and I select 8 and 12. It asks me to have my 8 year old answer a question. I do not have any option to indicate my 8 year old cannot understand the question, cannot speak well, or cannot eat the products the survey is about. I know, you’re thinking why not back up and change my answer. Oh didn’t I tell you? You can’t back up. So now I have to choose an answer that in no way is accurate. It’s all downhill from there. Sometimes I just quit the survey without finishing.
Do any of you take online surveys? Do you think the answers provided to the questions are designed to skew the results in one direction or another? Let me know, I want to hear what you think about this.
Category: Life, This and That
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I participate with one survey company that does pay. They send me emails whenever I meet their particular demographic – they usually want a mom with children. Most of what I am asked about is food products.
Many times, the item has already been introduced to the market. I think that they often cover the gamut for relevant answers (I would definitely, might possibly, might or might now, probably won’t, definitely won’t…use). What I DON’T like is that if you choose the last two, they often ask WHY…but they don’t ask WHY you would DEFINITELY use the product.
I have had, on two occasions, products sent to me to actually sample. One changed how I felt about the product, the other didn’t. It works well for me.
I occasionally participate in other online surveys that are not paid, and like you, I think that they skew the answers to get the results they want.
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Thanks for the feedback Linda, and for visiting!
My mom was wondering about paid surveys but I told her you have to be careful with them because some of them are scams.
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I haven’t done any paid ones, so I can’t really say about those. Ipsos Isay just gives you entries into sweepstakes.
I’ve often wondered about that – It’s part of the reason I quit doing surveys for most companies. It’s so frustrating when you can’t pick the real answer.
I did get my prize for your February contest a while back – I’ve been so busy that I didn’t stop by to say thank you!! (That and my husband and I have spent a fair amount of time playing with it – LOL!) I blogged about my recent wins – Thanks again!
Melody
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You’re welcome! Glad you’re enjoying it.