30 Data Governance Survey Questions: Types, Samples & Best Practices

Data Accessibility & Discoverability Survey

What is a Data Accessibility & Discoverability Survey?

If hunting for datasets in your organization feels like a treasure hunt—with no map—you need a data accessibility and discoverability survey. This checks how easy it is for people to locate, request, and extract data they need for their day jobs. It’s all about breaking down the walls between data silos and enabling a smoother ride to better insights.

Poor accessibility creates drag on analytics and sends help desk tickets through the roof. That’s why measuring and improving discoverability is a staple in the modern data governance assessment toolkit.

Why & When to Use a Data Accessibility & Discoverability Survey

Set yourself up for success by deploying this survey:

• Before rolling out a shiny new catalog tool
  
• Ahead of a self-service analytics launch
  
• When you notice a rash of “can’t find data” support tickets
  

Speedy data access boosts productivity and morale, while clunky processes leave teams frustrated and disengaged. This survey surfaces which tools and formats are tripping everyone up.

Sample Data Accessibility & Discoverability Survey Questions

1. Rate the ease of locating datasets relevant to your role.

2. How long does it typically take to gain access approval to a new dataset?

3. Are data catalogs or glossaries up to date and searchable?

4. Which formats (CSV, API, BI reports) cause the most friction for you?

5. What improvements would most enhance data discoverability?

Mandated data archiving policies, requiring data availability statements, improve online data accessibility nearly a thousand-fold compared to no policy. (arxiv.org)

Data Security & Compliance Survey

What is a Data Security & Compliance Survey?

Nobody wants to land in hot water with regulatory bodies or deal with a data breach. A data security & compliance survey dives into how well you’re protecting sensitive information (PII, PHI, PCI) and sticking to rules like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA. This survey isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes—it’s about making sure everyone knows how to keep data safe and sound.

Compliance may seem like paperwork, but it’s a lifeline for trust. Clear, actionable insights from your data governance assessment can plug costly holes before they become headlines.

Why & When to Use a Data Security & Compliance Survey

Deploy this survey when stakes are high:

• Before audit season or annual compliance review
  
• After updating policies or rolling out new controls
  
• Immediately following a security incident, to spot gaps
  

You’ll learn where your team is foggy on procedures—and whether your training is landing where it should.

Sample Data Security & Compliance Survey Questions

1. Do you understand the procedures for reporting a data breach?

2. Are access controls reviewed at least quarterly in your team?

3. How confident are you that sensitive data is masked or encrypted in non-prod environments?

4. Which regulatory requirements are least clear to you?

5. Have you received adequate training on secure data-handling practices?

Data Stewardship & Ownership Survey

What is a Data Stewardship & Ownership Survey?

Clarity rules in data governance, and that’s exactly what a data stewardship & ownership survey measures. It evaluates whether roles and responsibilities are crystal clear and if stewards are stepping up as true custodians of key datasets. When everyone knows their part, fewer things slip through the cracks.

If your data feels like an orphan or team members are playing the blame game, stewardship is your leverage point.

Why & When to Use a Data Stewardship & Ownership Survey

The perfect time to deploy this survey is:

• After launching a data stewardship program
  
• During or following organizational shakeups
  
• When responsibility hot-potato is costing time and trust
  

This survey brings hidden accountability gaps into the daylight, so you can reinforce standards and help your stewards shine.

Sample Data Stewardship & Ownership Survey Questions

1. Is a designated data owner documented for each key dataset you use?

2. How responsive are data stewards when issues are raised?

3. Rate your understanding of the RACI matrix for data governance tasks.

4. Do data owners have adequate authority to enforce standards?

5. Which stewardship processes require additional support or tooling?

Effective data stewardship in higher education requires structured training and professional policies to manage and disseminate research data effectively. (arxiv.org)

Metadata Management Survey

What is a Metadata Management Survey?

Metadata is like the secret sauce that makes data governance not just possible, but delightful. A metadata management survey measures the completeness and usability of business and technical metadata, from definitions and lineage to lovable tags. Quality metadata turns what could be a pile of chaos into searchable, understandable, and trusted assets.

Bad metadata means confusion, stale analytics, and a lot of repetitive questions. Your data quality survey is great for catching errors, but only strong metadata management gets everyone speaking the same language.

Why & When to Use a Metadata Management Survey

Unleash this survey magic:

• Before selecting a new metadata management platform
  
• In advance of a major schema overhaul
  
• When miscommunication between teams is spiking
  

Solid insights here make it easier to justify investments and show the real value of good metadata practices.

Sample Metadata Management Survey Questions

1. How complete are data-set descriptions in the catalog?

2. Are data lineage diagrams available and trusted?

3. Does metadata capture business terminology in a user-friendly way?

4. How often do you encounter conflicting field definitions?

5. What metadata gaps impede your analytics work?

Data Governance Maturity Assessment Survey

What is a Data Governance Maturity Assessment Survey?

Ever wish you had a map for where your program stands—and where to go next? A data governance maturity assessment survey provides a holistic self-check across people, processes, tech, and culture. It goes way beyond data quality, offering a 360-degree view to help benchmark and boost your initiatives.

This isn’t just for new programs. Mature organizations use it yearly to justify budgets, uncover weak spots, and track progress over time. Being honest beats pretending your program is perfect.

Why & When to Use a Data Governance Maturity Assessment Survey

Drop this survey into play:

• At the very start of a data governance program
  
• Every year, as part of your benchmarking ritual
  
• If you need to show improvement to execs or unlock funding
  

It tells a story, identifying which dimensions need TLC, so you can prioritize fixes that matter most.

Sample Data Governance Maturity Assessment Survey Questions

1. At what stage is formal data-governance strategy documented and approved?

2. Are KPIs in place to measure data-governance ROI?

3. How integrated is governance with existing project-management lifecycle?

4. Rate executive sponsorship for data-governance initiatives.

5. Which maturity areas (quality, security, literacy) are most under-developed?

Data Literacy & Culture Survey

What is a Data Literacy & Culture Survey?

Even the best systems flop if no one wants to play. A data literacy & culture survey asks how skilled, confident, and motivated your workforce is when it comes to using data for decision-making. Trust and skill gaps here can wipe out months of technical improvements.

This survey checks the pulse of your organization’s data spirit, unmasking where upskilling, trust, or empowerment is needed most.

Why & When to Use a Data Literacy & Culture Survey

Make this survey a priority:

• Right before rolling out dashboard or analytics self-service tools
  
• Ahead of data democratization or culture initiatives
  
• When you need to justify budget or time for data training
  

Improving data culture boosts not just team performance but morale. Trust is the secret ingredient that turns “meh” into “wow.”

Sample Data Literacy & Culture Survey Questions

1. How confident are you interpreting data visualizations in your role?

2. Do you have access to training resources for improving data skills?

3. How frequently do you use data to support day-to-day decisions?

4. Do you trust the data sources provided by your organization?

5. What barriers prevent broader data adoption in your team?

Policy & Standards Compliance Survey

What is a Policy & Standards Compliance Survey?

It’s one thing to write a shiny new policy. It’s quite another to see those policies become habits. A policy & standards compliance survey reveals whether teams actually know, follow, and respect your data standards—covering essentials like naming conventions, retention schedules, and classification.

Without this check, small cracks turn into audit nightmares. With it, you can fix what’s not sticking and celebrate what’s working.

Why & When to Use a Policy & Standards Compliance Survey

Reach for this survey after:

• Publishing new data management or classification policies
  
• When audit outcomes show compliance gaps
  
• Any time there’s confusion about “rules of the data road”
  

This survey gets everyone on the same page and pinpoints which policies need clarification, training, or simplification.

Sample Policy & Standards Compliance Survey Questions

1. Are data-retention schedules clearly communicated and followed?

2. Do you use approved naming conventions for new data elements?

3. How often are policy exceptions requested in your area?

4. Rate ease of accessing documentation on data-handling standards.

5. Which policies are most difficult to implement and why?

Dos and Don’ts for Crafting High-Impact Data Governance Surveys

Dos for Effective Data Governance Surveys

A winning survey should be designed with clear, targeted objectives in mind. This means every question needs to map back to something actionable in your data governance plan. You get what you measure, so don’t waste a single question slot.

Keep these best practices in play:

• Use clear, jargon-free language everyone can understand

• Supply examples where needed, especially for nuanced topics

• Mix scaled, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions to reveal both trends and surprises

• Pilot test your survey with a small group and iterate based on their feedback

• Always close the loop—share findings and action plans, so people see their input wasn’t lost in a black hole

This approach encourages honest feedback, higher completion rates, and actionable next steps, making your survey a tool for real change.

Don’ts for Data Governance Surveys

Avoid the classic potholes by steering clear of certain pitfalls. Don’t ask “double-barreled” or leading questions—these muddy your results and frustrate respondents. Keep it short; if your survey takes longer than 10 minutes, expect mass desertions.

Other important don’ts:

• Never ignore the importance of anonymity and data-privacy; people answer more honestly when they know it’s safe

• Skip generic, non-actionable questions that don’t move the needle

• Don’t forget to check each question’s alignment with your governance objectives—irrelevant questions drain attention and good faith

Focus on survey best practices to collect insights that help your program mature while keeping respondents engaged and willing to answer your next round.

Conclusion

With these proven survey types and best practices, you can measure, monitor, and level up every aspect of your data governance program. Use these questions and checklists to uncover blind spots, build engagement, and make strategic improvements. The next time someone asks how healthy your data governance effort is, you’ll have the answers and the evidence. Happy surveying—your data’s future just got a lot brighter!