The six main types of survey questions are open-ended, closed-ended, multiple choice, rating scale, Likert scale, and demographic questions.

Surveys are one of the most valuable ways to obtain information, whether used for academic research, customer input, employee engagement, or market condition analysis. Regardless of the context, the precision and richness of the data you collect from your survey will depend on the types of questions included. If researchers are intentional in their design choices regarding question type, they can enhance the quality of responses, minimize bias, and make data easier to interpret and actionable. At Nexus Expert Research, we work with organizations and scholars to create surveys that are trustworthy and useful. Knowing about the six categories of survey questions is the first step in creating a powerful research tool. 

1. Multiple Choice Questions

The most popular survey type uses multiple-choice questions because they provide a series of possible answers. They are easy to answer and simple to analyze and are thus ideally suited to collect data from large samples. Multiple choice questions assist the respondent in determining the best answer for the particular survey response in order to indicate their experience or opinion. This type of question thus allows researchers to identify trends and quantify preferences. Respondents can answer single-select or multiple-select questions based on the intent of the study. 

2. Likert Scale Questions

Likert scale questions assess people’s attitudes, feelings, and levels of agreement or disagreement. In this question type, the responder sees a statement and chooses one of the ratings on a scale, normally “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” or “very satisfied” to “very dissatisfied” on the scale. Likert scale questions are useful for performing sentiment tracking, brand perception studies, and measuring behavioral intent. 

3. Rating Scale Questions

Rating scale questions ask respondents to assign a value to a specific item or experience using a numerical or visual scale, such as a 1-10 scale, or a star rating. Rating scale questions are useful to gauge intensity and satisfaction. Rating scales allow an organization to translate a person’s opinion into quantifiable data that is intended to be visible amongst different groups, or can be measured over time. 

4. Dichotomous Questions

The questions are simple and have only two possible responses: “yes, no” or “true, false.” They are best suited for filtering respondents or collecting straightforward data. They do not offer much depth but are very practical for screening or to establish quick categorizations in customer and employee surveys. 

5. Open-Ended Questions

Respondents can answer an open-ended question in any format and are not restricted in the length or content of their answer. This type provides qualitative insight into personal feelings, reasons, or recommendations; it is useful when the goal is to discover new ideas, a nuanced understanding, or receive detailed feedback that can’t be captured in other types of questions. 

6. Demographic Questions

Demographic questions collect background information such as age, gender, education level, income, or occupation. These questions allow researchers to divide people into categories and examine how opinions differ from one segment to the next. Demographic data is important in crafting targeted strategies and in establishing useful associations between variables in market research or policy development. 

Why Choosing the Right Question Type Matters 

Understanding the six primary types of survey questions can help researchers develop quality surveys that will be able to capture both quantitative and qualitative data. Whether the purpose is academic research, employee research, or market research, the appropriate use of the types of questions will provide reliable, relevant data that can ultimately lead to actionable insight. 

At Nexus Expert Research, we create research-supported surveys that thoughtfully incorporate all of these question types to provide comprehensive results. Our experts apply innovative methodologies that reduce bias, lead to improved accuracy of response, and create statistically valid analyses of responses.