Most of us have taken a survey at some point in our lives. From requests for feedback to giveaways on social media, or even surveys at a place of work, surveys are everywhere.

This Resource gives you a rundown of the types of questions that can be asked - their formats, how to answer them, and simple examples to illustrate what they look like.

Survey questions can use either a closed-ended or open-ended format to collect answers from individuals. The difference between the two is that close-ended questions include a predefined list of answer options, while an open-ended question asks you to answer in your own words.

Popular types of survey questions

Below are some of the most commonly used survey question types.

Single and Multi-Select Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are the most popular survey question type. They’re intuitive, easy to use in different ways, and provide mutually exclusive choices.

Multiple choice questions come in many different formats. The most basic variation is the single-answer multiple choice question. Single answer questions use a radio button allowing you to pick only one.

Multiple-answer multiple choice questions are commonly shown with square checkboxes. They allow you to check off all the choices that apply to you.

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Single and Multi-Select Grids

Grid questions combine multiple related sub-questions, topics, or statements that have the same possible answers. They allow you to focus on one topic or area at a time by grouping the specifics into a single grid. These can be single-select, where you can choose only one answer for every row.

They can also be multi-select, allowing you to choose all the options that apply from the ones offered.

Open-ended questions

These are free-form survey questions that allow you to answer in open-text format, giving you the freedom to answer based on your complete knowledge, feeling, and understanding of the question and the subject. These can be text-based or numerical.

Autosum and Constant sum questions

An autosum questions asks you to give a certain number of points to different options. These questions are used to find out what is most important to you or how you would use resources.

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For questions that are in percentages or relating to a specific number - like hours in a day or days in a week -the answers you give need to add up to a number that remains constant.

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Slider questions

Slider scale questions let you rate an answer option on a numerical scale by dragging a slider.

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Button Rating Questions

These questions typically ask you to rate a product or service on a scale.

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This or That questions

These questions are to understand your preferences between two options.

Taking paid surveys can be a fun and interesting way to earn some extra money, but it can also feel intimidating if you're not sure what to expect. That's why it's helpful to understand the different types of survey questions that you might encounter. By knowing what types of questions to expect, you can feel more comfortable and confident as you complete paid surveys.