Do it yourself research surveys
Get great data using SurveyMonkey for DIY research
We make it easy to roll up your sleeves and create DIY research surveys online.
Extracting specific data points isn’t always easy. To get actionable and reliable data, we provide you with sound survey methodology, useful question types, and expert-certified survey templates. Then we give you tons of ways to send surveys, track responses, and cutting-edge tools for analyzing results.
Getting started on your next research project is quick, easy and FREE.
We can also send your research surveys to targeted groups who fit your specifications with SurveyMonkey Audience. We also offer expert market research services to get your research program up and running in no time.
Reach the right respondents
Need more data? SurveyMonkey Audience offers DIY and aided approaches to help you reach the right audience and a statistically valid sample size for your research. Design your survey, click to send, and then select “Buy a Targeted Audience” to choose the respondents and audience size you want.
How to deliver your research surveys
- Online. Create your online survey in minutes, generating a link you can send in email through SurveyMonkey or post on your website.
- On Mobile Devices. With surveys optimized for use on mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, Kindle Nook readers, and Android devices—SurveyMonkey makes it easy for you to go mobile when you do your research.
- On Social Media Platforms. Interested in conducting research with groups on social or professional networks? Embed your survey link on a Facebook page, or tweet it to recipients.
DIY research best practices
We’ve helped millions of people get their research done. If you need a little more help, check out our guides on how to create and conduct surveys, and how to run your own market research program; here are some ideas for encouraging respondents to complete your surveys.
- Introduce your objective. Provide context with a brief sentence. Tell survey takers why you’re asking these questions and how their feedback will help. For example, say “Your feedback will help us understand how which services are most important to you.”
- Use human language. Be as clear with language as possible, to ensure that your respondents understand your questions.
- Use simple question types. For example, use Likert or multiple choice questions instead of larger, hard-to-scale matrix question types.
Why use online surveys for research?
Surveys can be a great research tool – but your data is only as good as the science of the survey. It’s a causal relationship. SurveyMonkey offers an extensive collection of templates and survey types you can use as the basis of your research surveys. And all of our survey template questions, including each certified question in our Question Bank, are written by professional survey methodologists. Check out these and other survey templates for your research projects. (Please note that some of these surveys are only available in English at this time.)
Demographics research
Use a series of surveys, including long and short demographics surveys, to understand the background of your research respondents. Use templates such as Education Demographics, Military Service and Government Support for more detailed demographic data.
Market research
What’s the appetite for the new product or service you’re introducing? Have you tried an opinion poll? Use our 20-question Market Research survey to explore respondents’ opinions, their preference for your restaurant or business offerings over the competition’s, and their willingness to recommend.
User experience research and questionnaire design
As part of your research, explore the quality of targeted users’ experiences on websites. Survey visitors to find out how they respond to a site and if they were able to find the information they needed. Poll target audiences to determine individuals’ use of smartphones and applications to plan your mobile strategy. Use survey feedback to design engaging user experiences online and on mobile devices.
Research for non-profits
A cost-effective way to gather insights, online surveys and questionnaires can help nonprofit organizations identify donors’ reasons for contributing and help you plan activities that will drive engagement and investment.
Academic research
Deliver surveys as a research tool to test your classroom or lecture hall theories. Use sampling procedures and surveys for pilots and pretests, longitudinal studies, and field training and testing.
Health and human services research
Explore patient demographics, behaviors, access to healthcare, gender health issues, and community outreach programs. Use healthcare, medical research, and health and nutrition surveys to explore ways to improve patient and community wellness and healthcare services and to improve your data collection.
Research in child development and education
Use surveys from SurveyMonkey’s collection of Education, School, and Academic Online survey templates for research projects on family and school relationships, educational outcomes, school climate, online learning programs, and student satisfaction. Leverage templates such as the Harvard Graduate School of Education Pre K-12 Parent survey for parents’ detailed feedback on their children’s education experience.