Write useful survey questions
Write clear questions that people can answer quickly and that give your team useful feedback.
A useful survey starts with a clear decision or learning goal. Write only the questions you need to support that goal.
1. Name the goal
Section titled “1. Name the goal”Finish this sentence before opening the builder: “After reading the answers, we want to decide…”
For example: “We want to decide what to change about code reviews next sprint.” This is more useful than asking about every part of the team’s work at once.
2. Ask about one thing at a time
Section titled “2. Ask about one thing at a time”Avoid combining two ideas in one question. A participant may have different answers for each part.
| Hard to answer | Clearer wording |
|---|---|
| Are planning and reviews working well? | How useful was sprint planning? |
| Was the workshop clear and engaging? | What part of the workshop was hardest to follow? |
| Why are reviews always slow? | What, if anything, delayed your last review? |
The last example also removes an assumption. Let people say that nothing was delayed.
3. Give a time frame
Section titled “3. Give a time frame”Ask about a period people can remember. “During the last sprint” is easier to answer than “Usually.” Use the same period when comparing answers across a team.
Add context in Helper text rather than turning the question into a long paragraph.
4. Choose an answer format
Section titled “4. Choose an answer format”Use a Scale when you want a rating that can be compared. Use Multiple choice when one answer should apply, and Checkboxes when people may need several.
Use Long answer to understand a reason or hear an example. A good short survey often pairs a rating with an open question.
For example:
- “How confident are you in next sprint’s plan?” — Scale 1–5.
- “What would make you more confident?” — Long answer.
5. Check the options
Section titled “5. Check the options”Make choices clear and distinct. If an option does not apply to everyone, consider whether you need “Not applicable.” Do not force someone to invent an answer to continue.
For scales, make sure the endpoints have a clear meaning. Keep the direction consistent: a higher number should not mean better in one question and worse in the next without a clear explanation.
6. Read the survey out loud
Section titled “6. Read the survey out loud”Read each question as if you had no background in the topic. Remove internal abbreviations and words that need an explanation. Check that someone could answer without asking you what you meant.
Keep the estimated completion time realistic. If the survey is getting long, remove questions that will not change what you do next.
Next step
Section titled “Next step”Use Your first survey to build and publish a short example, or explore Agent Surveys when follow-up questions are central to what you want to learn.