Quantitative Survey Questions Quantitative Survey

Quantitative Survey Questions

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What are Quantitative Survey Questions?

Quantitative and qualitative survey questions are the two types of questions that can be found in surveys. Quantitative refers to something that can be measured whereas qualitative refers to the quality of something including the size, value, and so on.

Quantitative survey questions are objective questions that are intended to gain extensive information from respondents. Such questions are used to collect numerical data that can be used for statistical analysis. 

Quantitative questions are closed-ended questions that usually ask the respondents to choose from a list of options. The participants are not exhausted by these kinds of questions because they do not take much time to answer.

Quantitative research focuses on the “What” and “Who”. On the other hand, Qualitative research focuses on the “Why” element, which gives an insight into people’s thoughts and attitudes that are difficult to quantify. 

Quantitative and qualitative survey questions work together to form a complete survey. 

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Let’s look at the types of quantitative survey questions along with examples.

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Types of Quantitative Survey Questions with examples

There are 3 common types of quantitative survey questions, namely – 

  1. Descriptive survey questions
  2. Comparative survey questions
  3. Relationship-based survey questions

Descriptive Survey Questions

Descriptive survey questions ask about a variable or multiple variables to uncover the respondent’s opinion towards it. Such questions are used to quantify variables by targeting a larger audience. 

Descriptive research questions usually start with “What percentage?”, “How often?”, “What percentage?”, “What proportion?”, etc.

Here are a few quantitative question examples that fall into the descriptive category – 

  • How often do you purchase fitness-related mobile apps?
    • Variable: Number of mobile apps purchased
    • Target group: Users who have smartphones, fitness fanatic
  • What is the most preferred cuisine of Indians?
    • Variable: Cuisine
    • Target group: Indians
  • How much time do University students spend on social media each week?
    • Variable: Time spent on social media
    • Target group: University students
  • How often do women between the ages of 20 and 30 years of exercise?
  • Variable: Workout time
  • Target group: Women aged between 20 and 30

Comparative Survey Questions

Comparative Survey Questions are used to obtain a comparison between 2 groups of variables. The aim is to establish a clear difference between one or more variables belonging to different target groups. The questions usually begin with “What is the difference between?” variables belonging to different categories. 

Here are a few comparative survey question examples – 

  • What are the differences between remote and in-office work culture in MNCs?
    • Variable: Work culture
    • Target group: MNCs
  • What is the difference in cuisine preferences in Indian children and adults?
    • Variable: Cuisine preference
    • Target group: Indian children and Women
  • What are the differences in the usage of mobile between young and older people?
    • Variable: Usage of mobile devices
    • Target group: Older generation and young generation
  • What are the differences in daily calorie intake between Indian men and women?
    • Variable: Calorie intake
    • Target group: Indian men and women

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Relationship-based Survey Questions

Relationship-based survey questions are used to determine the relationship and association between two or more variables. Such kinds of quantitative questions are framed as – “What is the relationship between?” 2 or more dependent variables.

Given below are a few examples of relationship-based quantitative survey questions:

  • What is the relationship between age and usage of gadgets in New Zealand?
    • Dependent Variable: Usage of gadgets
    • Independent Variable: Age
    • Target group: New Zealand
  • What is the relationship between online purchase habits and location in India?
    • Dependent Variable: Online purchase habits
    • Independent Variable: Location
    • Target group: India
  • What is the relationship between college students’ study time and their scores in exams?
    • Dependent Variable: Scores in exams
    • Independent Variable: Study time
    • Target group: College students
  • Do grades have an impact on the future success of an individual?
    • Dependent Variable: Future success
    • Independent Variable: Grades
    • Target group: General audience

Benefits of Quantitative Survey Questions

We’ve taken a look at quantitative survey questions types and examples. Let’s take a look at how they assist you with your surveys.

  • They can be used to kickstart your research process. They are inexpensive and can be quickly filled in by the participants. They ensure that your survey gets a strong start.
  • The numeric data collected from quantitative surveys can be used in statistical analysis to gain deeper insights.
  • Quantitative questions provide comprehensive information about a broader set of audiences. They can be used to figure out the general opinion of people about a topic. 

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How to write Quantitative Survey Questions?

Follow the steps listed below to design quantitative survey questions:

  • Choose the type of quantitative survey question 

Select a type that corresponds to the survey’s goal. The kind of answers given by respondents are determined by the type of question posed. 

  • Identify the target group as well as dependent and independent variables

The next step is to choose the target audience and the variables to be measured. Variables can be categorized into 4 types: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. 

  • Give a proper structure to the survey

After the first 2 points have been taken care of, it is now time to structure the survey such that it is uncomplicated. Simple and unambiguous wordings should be used to frame the questions.

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