31 Nominal Survey Questions: Definition, Types & Best Practices

Key Advantages & Limitations of Nominal Data

Main Benefits

Nominal data shines for researchers and survey designers in several ways:

• Rapid analysis: Answers snap instantly into clear reports—no math gymnastics required.

• Easy visualization: Making pie charts or bar graphs is a breeze, since each category stands alone.

• Branching logic: Responses can guide where a survey goes next with zero ambiguity.

• Low cognitive load for respondents: Choosing categories is familiar and simple, reducing fatigue.

• Efficient coding and storage: Categories can be numerically coded, making spreadsheet work neater.

Constraints and Pitfalls

But nominal survey questions also come with built-in limitations:

• Cannot measure magnitude: You’ll never know “how much” or by “how many,” just “which type.”

• Risk of category overlap: Clumsy list-making can let respondents slip between the cracks (like choosing multiple, similar answers).

• Cannot capture intensity: You won’t know how strongly someone feels—just which side of the fence they’re on.

When NOT to use nominal questions:

• If you need to know how much or how many—choose interval, ratio, or ordinal formats.
• When detailed ranking or comparison is vital, look elsewhere.

Nominal data works best when labeling is all you need, and when clarity trumps complexity.

Nominal data is easy to collect and analyze, but it lacks depth and cannot measure the intensity or magnitude of preferences. (pastquestionsandanswers.com)

Demographic Nominal Questions

Quick Definition

Demographic nominal questions are a fantastic way to slice data by asking about personal attributes—usually things you can’t change, like age, gender, or employment status. Their whole purpose is to group people by who they are, not what they feel or how much they do.

Why & When to Use

Here’s where these questions shine:

• Audience segmentation: Curious about how different age groups feel about your product? Start with demographics.

• Quota sampling: Ensuring fairness or diversity in sampling by controlling who gets into your data.

• Post-survey weighting: Adjust for imbalances in your respondents after the survey closes.

• Kicking off a survey: Starting with personal information helps with screening and later correlation.

Demographic questions are best asked early—get the stats before diving into attitudes or behaviors.

5 Sample Questions

1. What is your gender? (Male, Female, Non-binary, Prefer not to say)

2. Which age bracket do you fall into? (18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+)

3. What is the highest level of education you have completed? (High school, Some college, Bachelor’s degree, Graduate degree, Other)

4. What is your marital status? (Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Prefer not to say)

5. What is your current employment status? (Employed, Unemployed, Student, Retired, Prefer not to say)

Writing Tips

• Keep categories exhaustive and mutually exclusive: Make sure every respondent fits somewhere, with zero overlap.

• Always offer a “Prefer not to answer” option: Respect privacy and prevent forced disclosure.

• Review for cultural appropriateness: Demographics can vary globally—never assume a one-size-fits-all set of categories.

Asking demographics thoughtfully sets the table for the rest of your research meal.

Binary / Yes-No Nominal Questions

Quick Definition

Binary (yes-no) nominal questions present just two possible answers, letting respondents quickly stake a claim: yes or no, true or false. These questions are the Swiss Army knife of surveys—neat, efficient, and perfect for fast decisions.

Why & When to Use

These straightforward questions are often used for:

• Screening respondents: Directing people down specific survey paths based on eligibility.
• Skip logic: Jump over irrelevant questions with clean “yes” or “no” answers.
• A/B funnels: Pinpoint which path a respondent takes early on.
• Churn prediction: A “no” can signal possible customer loss.

Binary questions are great for minimizing respondent effort, stripping deadweight from the survey and moving quickly.

5 Sample Questions

1. Have you purchased our product before? (Yes/No)

2. Are you currently a college student? (Yes/No)

3. Do you own a smartphone? (Yes/No)

4. Have you visited our website in the past month? (Yes/No)

5. Would you recommend our service to a friend? (Yes/No)

Writing Tips

• Pair with follow-up probes if depth is needed: Use a “Why?” after a “No” to mine more insight.

• Double-check clarity: Ambiguous wording can make a simple question confusing.

• Use these questions for routing and eligibility: Get quick answers, shape the journey, and keep things brisk.

Binary questions are fast, friendly, and always clear—just don’t forget to dig deeper if yes or no isn’t enough.

Binary (yes-no) survey questions are efficient for quick data collection but may oversimplify complex opinions, potentially leading to biased or incomplete insights. (granicus.com.au)

Single-Select Multiple-Choice Nominal Questions

Quick Definition

A single-select multiple-choice nominal question asks the respondent to pick one answer from a list of three or more options—no squishy middle ground allowed. Each possibility is a spot on the map, and you can only stand in one.

Why & When to Use

Here are the sweet spots for these questions:

• Uncovering “primary” preferences or behaviors: Learn what people do or prefer most.

• Pie chart magic: Perfect for splitting results into color-coded slices—think top streaming services or favorite pet types.

• Simple frequency analysis: Count how many folks picked each answer—done!

Single-select questions shine when you want a primary answer—no fence-sitters or multi-taskers muddying the results.

5 Sample Questions

1. Which streaming service do you use most often? (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Other)

2. What type of pet do you own? (Dog, Cat, Fish, Bird, None)

3. Which social media platform do you use daily? (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn)

4. What is your primary mode of transportation to work? (Car, Bus, Train, Bike, Walk)

5. Which operating system does your main computer use? (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Other)

Writing Tips

• Include an “Other, please specify” option: Future-proof your list and catch outliers or new trends.

• Keep answers mutually exclusive: Respondents should fit in only one bucket.

• Randomize answer order if possible: Prevent position bias.

These questions make comparing groups so easy—just count, sort, and draw the pie chart!

Multi-Select (Check-All-That-Apply) Nominal Questions

Quick Definition

Multi-select nominal questions (aka, “check-all-that-apply”) let respondents pick as many answers as they want, casting a wide net across categories. They’re the best way to capture the breadth of someone’s experiences or habits.

Why & When to Use

This format works brilliantly for:

• Product feature usage: Understand which features people use—maybe all, maybe just one.

• Channel overlap: See if the same user gets news from multiple sources.

• Lifestyle profiling: Get richer portraits of respondents’ interests.

Best placed mid-survey, these questions catch the nuances without scaring anyone off right at the start.

5 Sample Questions

1. Which payment methods do you regularly use? (Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash)

2. Which of the following cuisines do you enjoy? (Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean)

3. In which sports do you participate? (Soccer, Basketball, Running, Swimming, None)

4. What sources do you rely on for news? (TV, Newspapers, Online Websites, Social Media, Radio)

5. Which devices do you own? (Laptop, Desktop, Tablet, Smartphone, Smartwatch)

Writing Tips

• Always include “Select all that apply” in your instructions: Make it obvious!

• Keep options clear and non-overlapping: Avoid head-scratchers like “mouse” and “mice.”

• Be aware of data complexity: You’ll need fancier analysis (like multiple response analysis) to make sense of results.

Multi-select questions are the best way to capture the full story, but they need crystal-clear answers for smooth analysis.

Brand & Preference Nominal Questions

Quick Definition

Brand and preference nominal questions are designed to tap into gut reactions about brands and choices. These ask respondents to pick the one brand or item that comes instantly to mind, turning raw awareness into readable data.

Why & When to Use

These questions are survey gold for:

• Brand tracking research: Watch how top-of-mind awareness changes over time.

• Competitive audits: Spot who’s winning the first-thought battle among competitors.

• Positioning studies: See if your brand “owns” a certain attribute, like value or luxury.

• Running post-campaign studies: Measure the impact of advertising on brand recall.

Use them mid-survey or alongside other nominal sub-types to pinpoint true rivals and brand leaders.

5 Sample Questions

1. Which brand do you associate most with premium coffee? (Starbucks, Dunkin’, Peet’s, Costa, Other)

2. When thinking of athletic footwear, which brand comes to mind first? (Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, New Balance)

3. Which smartphone brand do you trust the most? (Apple, Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Other)

4. Which grocery store do you shop at most often? (Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Aldi, Other)

5. Which ride-share service do you prefer for airport trips? (Uber, Lyft, Local Taxi, Other, None)

Writing Tips

• Rotate list order to reduce primacy bias: No favorites at the top!

• Always allow an “Other” option with open text: Real-world opinions rarely fit neat lists.

• Mind cultural and regional variations: Brands can mean different things in different places.

Brand and preference questions offer a fun window into how people really think, lightning-fast.

Best Practices, Dos & Don’ts for Nominal Survey Design

Dos

When thinking about how to write nominal survey questions, stay on the right track with these habits:

• Ensure mutual exclusivity: Each category must be unique to avoid overlap.

• Provide exhaustive answer lists: Make sure every respondent finds an answer that fits.

• Pilot test categories: Run your options past a small group first to catch problems.

• Apply logical skip patterns: Use answers for smart routing and smoother surveys.

• Rotate answers, especially for brand lists: Blend fairness into every question.

Don’ts

Steer clear of these classic mistakes:

• Never overlap categories: Don’t leave respondents wondering, “Which one am I?”

• Don’t force ranking on nominal data: Categories are equal—no pecking order allowed.

• Avoid overloading on jargon: Use simple, familiar labels.

• Don’t forget “None,” “Other,” or “Prefer not to answer”: Keep your sample inclusive.

• Ignore cultural context at your peril: What works in one country can flop in another.

How to write nominal survey questions well means always keeping the respondent’s perspective in sharp focus, and prepping your list for bulletproof clarity.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

Nominal survey questions are big-time problem-solvers—whether you’re slicing respondents by demographics or tracking brands battle for mindshare. Each sub-type shines in specific survey tasks, from fast eligibility checks to deep-dive multi-selects. The secret to sharp insights lies in building clear, mutual-exclusive categories with every question you write. Use the sample questions and tips from this article to make your next survey punch above its weight, today! Now, go add some crystal-clear, bias-busting nominal questions to your next questionnaire.