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Custom Study Tips and Tricks

Creating great custom studies requires thoughtful planning, clear communication, and an understanding of your audience. Here are 10 tips and tricks to design custom studies that engage respondents and deliver insightful data:

  1. Clearly Define Your Purpose

    • Start with a clear objective for your custom study.

    • Ask yourself: What do I want to learn?

    • Focus: Every question should tie back to your goal to avoid unnecessary complexity.

  2. Keep It Short and Focused

    • Respect your respondents’ time.

    • Aim for 5–10 minutes: Longer custom studies often lead to drop-offs.

    • Stick to essentials: Remove redundant or irrelevant questions.

  3. Use Simple, Clear Language

    • Avoid jargon and ambiguous phrases.

    • Be direct: Use straightforward and concise wording.

    • Example: Instead of “Rate your satisfaction with the tangible aspects of our service,” ask “How satisfied are you with our service?”

  4. Ask One Question at a Time

    • Avoid double-barreled questions that combine multiple queries.

    • Bad Example: “How satisfied are you with our pricing and delivery speed?”

    • Good Example: Break it into two separate questions about pricing and delivery.

  5. Use the Right Question Types

    • Match the question type to the information you need.

    • Multiple choice: For clear options.

    • Sliders: For ranges or scales.

    • Open-ended: For detailed feedback.

  6. Use Scales Consistently

    • If you use rating scales, keep them uniform throughout the custom study. Example: Use a 1–5 or 1–10 scale consistently, and label endpoints clearly (e.g., 1 = “Not at all,” 10 = “Very much”).

  7. Avoid Leading or Biased Questions

    • Keep questions neutral to get unbiased responses.

    • Bad Example: “Don’t you think our product is great?”

    • Good Example: “How would you rate our product?”

  8. Test Your Custom Study Before Launching

    • Pre-test with a small group to catch errors and ensure clarity.

    • Ask testers: Were the questions easy to understand? Did they flow logically?

    • Make adjustments: Based on their feedback.

  9. Make it Mobile-Friendly

    • Ensure your questions and responses are visible and readable on mobile devices.

  10. Always Say “Thank You”

    • End with a thank-you message to show appreciation.

    • Bonus: Mention how their feedback will be used to motivate participation.

Pro Tip for Extra Impact
  • Offer Incentives: Small rewards can boost response rates.

Form Element Best Practices

Get the most out of the Attitude-X form elements by following these best practices.

Best Practices for Using Free Text form elements

  • Use Them Sparingly: Too many Free Text form elements can overwhelm respondents.

  • Be Specific: Provide clear instructions on what type of information you’re looking for.

  • Make It Optional: Not all respondents may have something to say.

Free Text form elements are a great way to gather rich, qualitative data that gives your custom study depth and uncovers insights you might otherwise miss.

Best Practices for Numeric form elements

  • Set Clear Expectations: Indicate the units or format (e.g., “Enter your age in whole numbers”).

  • Be Specific: Let respondents know if decimals or negative numbers are acceptable (e.g., “-1 for no response”).

Numeric elements are perfect for gathering precise and measurable data, making them an essential tool for quantitative custom studys.

Best Practices for Using Radio Buttons

  • Keep Options Clear and Distinct: Avoid overlapping or ambiguous choices.

  • Include an “Other” Option When Appropriate: Add an open-text “Other” option for responses that may not fit predefined categories.

  • Use When Only One Answer Makes Sense: For multi-select answers, use checkboxes instead.

  • Provide a Default Option (if needed): If no response is required, allow users to proceed without selecting.

Radio buttons make custom studys simple and efficient by helping respondents focus on a single choice. Use them when clarity and exclusivity in answers are critical.

Best Practices for Using Checkboxes

  • Clarify Instructions: Add “Select all that apply” to ensure respondents understand they can choose multiple options.

  • Limit the Number of Options: Too many options can overwhelm respondents. Aim for 5–10 options.

  • Include an “Other” Option (if appropriate): Let respondents add input if none of the predefined options apply.

  • Avoid Overlap in Options: Ensure choices are distinct to avoid confusion.

Checkboxes are a great tool for capturing rich, flexible data when multiple responses are valid, giving you a broader understanding of your audience’s preferences and behaviors.

Best Practices for Using Slider Bars

  • Define Clear Labels: Ensure the scale’s start, end, and middle points are clearly marked (e.g., 0 = “Not satisfied,” 10 = “Extremely satisfied”).

  • Set Logical Ranges: Choose a range that matches the question’s context (e.g., 0–100 for percentages, 1–10 for ratings).

  • Avoid Too Many Sliders in One Custom Study: Overuse can overwhelm respondents.

  • Use for Appropriate Audiences: Sliders may be less user-friendly for older or less tech-savvy respondents. Consider alternatives if needed.

  • Test Responsiveness: Ensure sliders work well on mobile devices for ease of use.

Sliders are an excellent choice for capturing nuanced responses, making custom studies more engaging, and gathering precise data.

Best Practices for Using Dropdown Boxes

  • Use Only When Necessary: Don’t use dropdowns for short lists (e.g., Yes/No)—radio buttons are faster in such cases.

  • Order Options Logically: Alphabetise lists or arrange them in a meaningful order (e.g., by frequency or size).

  • Include a Default or Placeholder: Use a placeholder like “Select an option” to prompt respondents.

  • Provide an “Other” Option When Needed: Add a Free Text form element for responses that don’t fit predefined choices.

  • Test for Accessibility: Ensure dropdowns are easy to use on all devices, especially mobile.

Dropdowns are a clean and efficient way to handle questions with many options while maintaining a streamlined custom study design.

Best Practices for Using Page Breaks

  • Don’t Overuse Them: Too many pages can frustrate respondents, especially if they’re short.

  • Balance Content Per Page: Aim for 3–7 questions per page, depending on their complexity.

  • Test Across Devices: Ensure your page breaks work well on both desktop and mobile formats.

Page breaks help create a clear, organised, and user-friendly custom study experience, ensuring respondents stay engaged and complete the custom study.

See Also