You’ve done your due diligence and created a simple, data-rich survey, and the results are pouring in.
Now what?
It’s time to review your survey responses. In this article, we look at understanding your survey results and how to move forward with them.
Display Your Results Visually
The human brain processes visual images 60,000 times faster than it does text.
So, take your data and put it into an image-based format. Think tables and graphs. This makes it easier not only for you, but for the rest of your team, to interpret the results.
Consider tables when looking at precise numbers or when you have just a few comparisons. Use graphs and other imagery when you have more to compare.
Ignore the Outliers
Once you have your survey data in a visually appealing format, you can concentrate on the high points. This means look at the biggest trends and for the initial discussion, ignore the outliers.
At first glance, you’re after the big picture of the data. For example, 15 respondents answered a question the same way, while two people didn’t. Save those outliers for a later discussion because they might even be mistakes.
You don’t want to miss the big picture because you focused on the smallest survey responses. (tweet this)
Use the Data Wisely
Let’s say you conducted a survey, and you wanted 100 responses, but you only got 10.
If your survey was about something as important as a major product change, you might want to send out a few more surveys a respectable time apart to be sure the data is correct.
If you do this, consider revising your survey and asking the question in a new way to elicit more responses.
Once you find your survey data correlates with one another, you can feel safe moving forward with your business change.
Final Thoughts
The best surveys are simple and specific with data that you can take action on. They begin with a well-crafted survey and end with a thorough examination of your survey results.
Finally, before you create your survey, write down its purpose along with what you think you’ll find. Then, you’ll have better results and something to compare them to.
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Image: Helena Lopes on Unsplash