Never ask respondents to perform more than one task

The problem with "two-part" questions isn't that people are forgetful.

It’s the strain of holding one question in mind while answering another.

The same tension is felt in survey questions with more than one task.

Take, for instance, a LinkedIn survey (shown above) where I was asked "If you could improve one thing about a LinkedIn tool or products, what change would you make?”

The broad question was daunting.

So was the large empty text box. 

I didn’t know what a “LinkedIn tool” referred to, and the shifting phrasing within the question — from “if you could improve one thing…” to “what change would you make...”— only added to the confusion.

However, the worst part was that I was also expected to:
• List the product
• Be as specific as possible
• Avoid sharing personal information

It was one of the most difficult survey questions I've seen, and about as labor-intensive as the self-checkout kiosks at CVS.

I selected the somewhat hidden "prefer not to answer" option.

Need help designing survey questions that are easy to answer?

Consider booking a Survey Roast with me.

Just click on the link below.

Designing "low-effort" survey questions is one of the many design services I provide.

https://www.sammcnerney.com/45-dollar-survey-roast

Cheers,
Sam