29 Basic Survey Questions: Types, Examples & Best Practices

Checkbox (Multiple-Select) Questions

Checkbox questions, or select all that apply survey questions, give your respondents the power to pick more than one answer from a list. Unlike single-select, these are designed for situations where “all of the above” genuinely makes sense and exclusive categories just don’t cut it.

Why & When to Use

Use checkbox questions when it’s not fair to force a single choice, or when behaviors and preferences can overlap. They’re a must for feature wish-lists, cataloging symptoms, or asking what hobbies someone enjoys. This format is also great when you want to know:

• What tools or services integrate into a workflow
• All factors influencing a buying decision
• Every loyalty program benefit customers value

By using checkboxes, you get richer data on real-world complexity. Respondents feel understood because they aren’t limited by static categories.

Benefits include:

• Mapping users’ full scope of activities or tastes
• Allowing nuanced feedback on product features
• Seeing at a glance which options are most and least popular

Sample Questions

1. Which social media platforms do you use weekly?

2. What factors influenced your purchase today?

3. Which tools integrate with your workflow?

4. What genres of music do you enjoy?

5. Select the benefits you value in a loyalty program.

Research indicates that forced-choice questions yield higher endorsement rates and more accurate data compared to select-all-that-apply formats. (pewresearch.org)

Likert Scale Questions

A Likert scale question frames an answer as a degree or scale, like 5-point or 7-point agreement or frequency scales. With options ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree,” this format makes it easy to quantify feelings, beliefs, or satisfaction.

Why & When to Use

Likert scale questions are perfect when you want to measure attitudes, agreement levels, or satisfaction over time. These are your go-to for tracking employee engagement or monitoring how your brand is perceived. Suppose you want to see if customers are becoming more confident in your product after an update—Likert questions make before-and-after comparisons easy.

Ideal use cases:

• Employee pulse surveys to spot trends
• Customer feedback following a touchpoint
• Tracking repeated feedback across multiple timepoints
• Uncovering subtle shifts in satisfaction or attitudes

The beauty of Likert scale questions is that they provide rich, gradated data. You don’t just learn if someone is satisfied—you learn how much they’re satisfied.

Sample Questions

1. How strongly do you agree that our app is easy to navigate?

2. Rate your satisfaction with our customer support response time.

3. How likely are you to recommend us to a friend?

4. The checkout process was straightforward.

5. I feel valued as a customer.

Rating Scale Questions (Numeric & Star)

Rating scale questions—think 1-10 rating questions or 5-star sliders—quantify experiences, satisfaction, or likelihoods as a number or set of stars. These questions go beyond agreement, letting respondents indicate the strength or intensity of their feelings.

Why & When to Use

Turn to rating scale questions when you need a quick, visual measure of intensity. Numeric scores or stars give you clear, comparable data that translates directly to dashboards and reports. They’re especially helpful for quantifying Net Promoter Score (NPS), prioritizing features, or measuring service quality.

Advantages include:

• Responses are easy—just tap and go!
• Great for mobile-first surveys
• You instantly spot highs and lows in feedback with visual ratings

They work wonders when you want to:

• Pinpoint areas to improve (e.g., product images, customer service)
• Compare experiences across locations or events
• Get a fast read on brand promoters or detractors

Sample Questions

1. On a scale of 0–10, how likely are you to buy again?

2. Rate the image quality of our product photos.

3. How confident do you feel using our software?

4. Please rate the cleanliness of the facility.

5. How would you rate today’s webinar content?

Research indicates that rating scale questions are easy to understand and answer, leading to higher response rates and reduced survey fatigue. (smartsurvey.co.uk)

Dichotomous (Yes/No) Questions

Dichotomous questions, or binary survey questions, require a simple yes or no answer. They’re the absolute definition of straightforward—perfect when time, clarity, or eligibility is key.

Why & When to Use

Use binary questions when you want to screen respondents quickly or set up logic branching in your surveys. They’re critical for compliance verification, qualifying leads, capturing eligibility, or confirming action steps. These questions shine when:

• You need to filter in or screen out certain groups
• Only one correct answer exists for eligibility or compliance
• Fast, frictionless data collection matters

Binary survey questions are essential for quick decision points. Keep them neutral, and always place sensitive questions later in your survey flow.

Benefits include:

• Zero ambiguity—answers are black and white
• Makes funneling or skip logic easy to set up
• Minimizes respondent fatigue

Sample Questions

1. Have you purchased from us in the last six months?

2. Do you currently own a smart speaker?

3. Did this article answer your question?

4. Would you attend this event again?

5. Are you over 18 years old?

Ranking Questions

Ranking questions, or rank order survey questions, ask respondents to put several items in order—either through drag-and-drop or assigning numbers. This format helps uncover people’s preferences and priorities, not just their top pick.

Why & When to Use

Ranking is invaluable when you want detailed prioritization insight. If you’re weighing product features, delivery methods, or potential improvements, ranking tells you what really matters most (and least).

Ideal scenarios:

• Deciding which features to build next
• Understanding benefit trade-offs in compensation
• Clarifying what drives loyalty among options

There’s a catch: too many ranking items can overwhelm. Keep the list under seven to avoid cognitive overload—your data quality will thank you!

Key strengths:

• Clear window into what people value most
• Supports product road-mapping and marketing
• Great for small, focused lists of options

Sample Questions

1. Rank these features from most to least important.

2. Order the following reasons for travel by personal relevance.

3. Arrange these delivery options by convenience.

4. Prioritize the job benefits you value most.

5. Rank these content topics in order of interest.

Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions—aka open text survey questions—let respondents share their thoughts in their own words. There’s no list to pick from, only a text box and the freedom to get honest (or creative).

Why & When to Use

Bring in open-ended questions when you want qualitative feedback or insights you didn’t anticipate. These questions reveal the “why” behind the “what”—gold for product teams and customer support. Use them to collect story-driven responses at the end of a section, or after major closed questions.

Just remember:

• Too many open-ends scare off busy respondents
• Some people skip or rush them without a nudge

Smart uses:

• Spotting unknown problems or pain points
• Gathering user stories or anecdotes
• Capturing detailed feature requests

Keep them short, relevant, and optional—your survey completion rates will soar.

Sample Questions

1. What nearly stopped you from completing your purchase?

2. Please describe any features you’d like to see.

3. In your own words, how can we improve our support?

4. Tell us about the best part of your experience today.

5. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions?

Demographic Questions

Demographic survey questions gather age, gender, income, education, and region data. Used together, these basics help you segment results and understand who’s actually taking your survey.

Why & When to Use

Demographic questions are all about segmenting your data, building personas, and making sure your results are truly representative. These are best added at the survey’s end—they feel less intrusive and lower the risk of early abandonment.

Practical benefits:

• Filter results by subgroups (e.g., age or region)
• Confirm you’re reaching your intended audience
• Fuel persona development for marketing

Always frame your questions neutrally and transparently. Remind respondents that their data is confidential—this builds trust!

When done well, demographic questions protect against bias and help you see beyond surface trends. Use them with care, and avoid asking more than you truly need.

Sample Questions

1. What is your age range?

2. Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?

3. What is your approximate annual household income?

4. What is your current employment status?

5. Which region do you currently live in?

Best Practices: Dos & Don’ts for Crafting Basic Survey Questions

Creating great surveys is equal parts art and science. Shape questions thoughtfully to ensure you gather clear, honest data while keeping respondents comfortable and engaged.

Dos

• Keep it concise and focused. Shorter questions mean less risk of confusion.

• Use neutral wording. Avoid leading language that sways answers.

• Randomize options where appropriate to prevent position bias.

• Pilot test your survey with a small group before the big launch.

• Offer a “None of the above” option for select-alls (so nobody feels stuck).

• Define any potentially confusing terms or acronyms.

• Make every question relevant to your goal.

Don’ts

• Avoid double-barreled questions. Never ask two things at once (“How satisfied are you with our prices and delivery?”).

• Steer clear of leading language (“Don’t you agree our product is awesome?”).

• Don’t use undefined jargon or insider abbreviations.

• Resist excessive open-ends. Too many can tank your completion rates.

• Never overcrowd your scales. Keep rating/grading scales simple and distinct.

Download our handy checklist or jump right into your favorite survey tool—start crafting brilliant basic surveys people actually enjoy finishing! By mastering question design, you'll unlock clearer results and more actionable insights every time.