Surveys, polls, and forms – you might think they’re the same thing, but they differ in purpose, use, and data analysis. All three of them contribute to data collection and feedback, but the real mystery is what makes them different?
First of all, let’s get to know surveys, polls, and forms better before distinguishing between them:
Surveys
A survey is a form that contains a variety of questions to collect detailed data and feedback. From contact details to ratings and opinions, a survey can collect any information you want. Examples of surveys: customer satisfaction, employee engagement, website feedback, etc.
Polls
A polls is a shorter version of a form that contains only one question. It usually collects opinions or preferences about a specific subject, such as a person, topic, technology, event, etc. Respondents have to choose an option from the available list, and after submitting, the results of the survey are published where they can view the percentage of votes for each option. Polls are widely used during elections, market research, and to gauge general opinions from your favorite colors to the type of shoes you are most likely to buy.
Forms
A form, similar to a survey, contains many questions and is used to collect data – except for a single transaction. You can see forms used for purchase orders, event registrations, school enrollment, job applications, and more.
When do we use them?
Now that we know what forms, surveys, and polls are about, when exactly do we use them? Here’s when they come in handy:
Surveys
Surveys can be used for both relational and transactional cases. Gathering feedback is the main use case for surveys, as it’s an ideal tool to help companies get all kinds of feedback from customers. It helps academics to conduct thorough research for their papers, and it gives organizations the ability to monitor the pulse of employees in the workplace.
Polls
Polls are used when you need to know about just one interesting topic. They are purely relational in nature and are useful when you need to understand the thinking of the general public on certain narrow topics.
Forms
Forms are nothing more than transactions. Each form intends to perform a specific action that is required from its respondents, whether it’s registering for a marathon, creating an account on a website, or even ordering a pizza.